Possible Clues:

• Questionable American power in religious community
• 1987 legal drama film starring Cher as public defender Kathleen Riley
• South American favourite about to be nabbed as one sought by police
• Person you'll find in the first letters of this puzzle's circled words
• Defendant: 'PC set us up!'
• Dubious party wielding useless power
• Dubious guess
• Dodgy American originally performing in group touring clubs
• Doubt party accepts American president's inauguration
• Dubious conjecture briefly ousting one in action