Remember this about potential pardons. [View all]

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If Trump pardons someone, they no longer face the threat of prosecution so they can’t claim risk of self-incrimination as a reason not to answer questions. In other words, Trump would be removing their right to remain silent on these matters. They’d still have exposure to a perjury charge.

So pardoning might not be the smartest move here for Trump, which makes it all the more likely he’ll do it.