Four years before President Biden issued a pardon for his son Hunter, the media hyped speculation that then-President Trump would issue premptive pardons for his own children.

If that had happened, there would be no controversy over his pardon of Hunter Biden. It would have put a damper on the conspiratorial claims of “lawfare” and weaponizing the Justice Department. It may or may not have altered what happened with Biden’s candidacy or the election. That is impossible to say.