Actually....

Clinton pardoned ONE associate and it triggered a criminal DOJ investigation. Trump could have a few dozen. The pardon power isn’t absolute if there’s a quid pro quo. https://t.co/eKCd6Ubar9

— STAY HOME (@sequinpants) January 20, 2021

The pardon can’t cover the crime of the bribe for the pardon, especially as the crime involves not just the person receiving the pardon, but the person granting it. The pardon stands, but the crime of bribery presents a new criminal act outside the coverage of the pardon.

And, of course, there’s the matter of what the pardon covers over what Bannon has already done:

Bannon was also involved in promoting the January 6 event, and his language on his show suggested that he knew it was going to be more than just a rally. Will be interested to see whether his pardon is worded to only address the charity misappropriation or more https://t.co/douzMuSSEV

— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) January 20, 2021

The funniest part is this:

...b) That the people who hate Bannon - the establishment - have now turned against Trump in some way, and he needs to have someone on his side.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 20, 2021

Because:

Trump pardoning someone who defrauded...Trump supporters.

That about sums up the last four years doesn’t it?

— The US has proudly gone 14 days w/o a coup attempt (@CreasedBrain) January 20, 2021

Remains to be seen if that's the case, but few bigger antagonists of McConnell than Bannon over time. https://t.co/FGzDOSAVrM

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 20, 2021

Or, after what McConnell said on the Senate floor today, Trump may have thought he’s got nothing to lose. Or he has something to gain:

If you don't think Bannon's Chinese sugar daddy is Trump's new banker, I have a acid-etched bathtub to sell you.

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) January 20, 2021

Later that same night:

The pardon of Bannon is described this way in the press release: "Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen."

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 20, 2021

Kinda reads like a middle finger to McConnell to me. 

Gotta say, most of these pardons don’t read that badly to me. Aside from Broidy and Bannon, most are white collar crimes and drug offenses, and few seem designed to undermine society or the justice system. Then again, I don’t know the details of many of them.

Trump may yet face a world of hurt for some of these pardons. One way or another.