Final answer:
Pilate tried to use the Passover tradition of releasing a prisoner to avoid executing Jesus, offering the crowd a choice between Jesus and insurrectionist Barabbas. The crowd chose Barabbas, leading to Jesus' crucifixion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "loophole" that Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, considered using to avoid putting Jesus to death involved the Jewish tradition of releasing a prisoner during the Passover festival. The Gospels suggest that Pilate found no fault with Jesus and offered the crowd the choice to release Jesus or another prisoner named Barabbas - a known insurrectionist. The crowd chose to release Barabbas, thus forcing Pilate's hand to sentence Jesus to crucifixion, as this was the customary Roman execution method for crimes such as rebellion against the Empire. It is important to note that this action by Pilate could be interpreted as him seeking to distance himself from the decision and place the responsibility on the shoulders of the Jewish people present.