By suppressing the truth, Brian and the entire Frontline team defend the reputation of their program. Brian abrogates responsibility, commenting that ".we have the courts to decide these things as well", while subtly eliminating the risk of loss of employment.
Delegated power associated with the withholding of truth is also evident in The Crucible. Power is firmly ensconced in the courts of Salem and the protagonist, John Proctor, is undergoing questioning about an affair with his former servant, Abigail. To protect him from the death penalty, his admission of lechery needs to be supported by his wife, Elizabeth. However, she denies this claim in order to protect John's reputation. Elizabeth reports to the court "She [Abigail] dissatisfied me.I came to think he [Proctor] fancied her". She proceeds to deny that Proctor had an affair, as evidenced by her reply to the judge's question "Is your husband a lecher?" being "No, sir". The court's judges possess the authority to hang Proctor and they attempt to use the power to coerce the truth from Elizabeth. Her denial suppresses the facts, and tragically John Proctor is hanged.
In The Talented Mr Ripley, Tom Ripley has been delegated authority by Dickie Greenleaf's father to persuade Dickie to return to the USA. Misusing this power, he orchestrates a lie to ingratiate himself with Dickie and his circle of friends while on an all-expenses paid trip to Europe. Tom journeys to Mongibello to find Dickie. Tom skirts around the truth by creating a lie about where they have met, after Dickie remarks "I don't remember you from New York". Tom eventually reveals the reason why he is there, although not the full truth. He subtly injects into the conversation "He's [Dickie's father] also a little worried that you won't come home". In contrast to the other texts, Tom manipulates rather than suppresses the truth to craft a lie; and is eventually forced to admit "your father sent me over here especially to ask you to come home".