Trial Before Caiaphas 4

Talk about trumped-up charges! When Jesus was arrested and put on trial before the high priest, Caiaphas, the court of the Sanhedrin had already decided not only the verdict, but the one and only charge as well. It had to be nothing else other than blasphemy. Why? And what about Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea? They were members of the Sanhedrin, but they said nothing in defense of Jesus during this trial. Why?