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Psychology author George K. Simon states that a successful manipulator shows the following traits:

1. Concealing aggressive intentions and behaviors and being affable.

2. Knowing the psychological vulnerabilities of the victim to determine which tactics are likely to be the most effective.

3. Having a sufficient level of ruthlessness to have no qualms about causing harm to the victim if necessary.

Roger Chillingworth shows two out of three of these traits when interacting with Dimmesdale on a regular basis, he plays mind games with Dimmesdale, concealing his real plans for revenge. He knows he is sick and his connection to god so he can psychologically manipulate him. Although he may genuinely want to cure Dimmesdale, he wants something to come of it in the end.

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Many parallels can be drawn between The Church of England and the puritan's way of managing their settlements. Monarchs are notorious for evading general "legal" issues while ruling, unless all of their citizens come together to revolt things like reckless spending can go unnoticed. While it is not specifically stated, we can assume Chillingworth finds something scandalous while inspecting Dimmesdale's sleeping body. Something that he most likely could have scrutinized someone else for while also having been guilty himself. Thievery was illegal during King James the 1st's rule and after dissolving parliament for a time he himself stole from England's funds by recklessly spending them, An abuse of power regardless.

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In a modern setting a character like Chillingworth could still be immune to scrutiny. The Goldwater Rule states that "It is unethical for psychiatrists to give a professional opinion about public figures whom they have not examined in person, and from whom they have not obtained consent to discuss their mental health in public statements." A man like Chillingworth could simply deny a psychological evaluation and still be within legal boundaries. Doctors back in the day although studied could really setup wherever they wanted without as long a process, they were given more of a watchful eye than priests and government officials, however, without substantial proof nothing could be done. This immunity to scrutiny can lead to a power struggle, which can also lead to abuse.

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The minister of Hester's puritan community, Dimmesdale is not without his own misbehavior. Unlike the Church of England, the puritans had no formal line of succession. Therefore it seems Dimmesdale could be minister for as long as he feels like, in his current state of health it seems unprofessional.

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The puritans manipulated many of their followers to despise members of rival organizations like the Catholic Church through abuse of power. By taking a day celebrated by the English, where fires were lit to celebrate King James I's failed assassination attempt. They took to using those fires to burn effigies of the pope and other figures that opposes their views.

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Very little has changed in the way we treat public officials from the times of the Puritans to now. Very few public officials actually accused of crimes or misconduct are arrested, very few impeachments have passed because the people accusing them are rarely voting and it simply gets strained through more waves of public officials. Those in power seem to protect others in power and the cycle continues. With no line of succession or maximum time that they are the minister or physician are allowed to serve, they can continue their practices without any issue while also causing injustice.

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Sharpe, J. A. Remember, Remember: a Cultural History of Guy Fawkes Day. Harvard University Press, 2005.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night#CITEREFSharpe2005

Contributors, Wikipedia. “Goldwater Rule.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 June 1958, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldwater_rule.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldwater_rule#cite_note-apa-1

Contributors, Wikipedia. “History of the Puritans under King James I.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Nov. 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Puritans_under_King_James_I