Nuremberg defense

To use the fact you were only following orders to escape prosecution. Used by Nazi Germany's military officers in Nuremberg when they were on trial for their treatment of the Jews, when they claimed to have nothing to do with it, only doing what they were told to do.

It is seen elsewhere in history... one example would be Oliver North's trial after the Watergate scandal, in which he claimed their illegal activity was just them following orders.

the "yuppie nuremberg" defense is when someone does something they know is wrong but tries justify it by simply saying they're doing it for the money. typically a lame excuse. . from the film, "thank you for smoking."