“The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.”
— James Madison (1794)

Here is a non-comprehensive list of President Trump’s wins after just one month:

https://oregoneagle.com/white-....house-america-is-bac

If a pardon is to be consistent with our government's idea that all people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, it would not be issued except when the person has been convicted. If we look at other cases, like Ford pardoning Nixon, the likelihood of a conviction is very high, so maybe a pardon in such a circumstance make sense. Is Hunter likely guilty of federal crimes then? Is that what Biden is telling the world?

“War is not the best engine for us to resort to; nature has given us one in our commerce, which if properly managed, will be a better instrument for obliging the interested nations of Europe to treat us with justice.”
— Thomas Jefferson (1797)