Why Trump pardoning accomplices could backfire

Trump apparently can't pardon himself. The Constitution says pardons are "granted." Legally speaking, you need two people for that. He might try, I don't think the courts will let him.
You can only pardon somebody after a crime's been committed. I'm not even sure there's been any fact-finding in Manaforte's case, and he's the one most loaded down with charges. There has to be  some fact-finding before the crime has been proved. Is  Mueller holding off cases until he either indicts or recommends impeachment for Trump? He might be. 

Also, pardons will be a double-edged sword. If Trump pardons somebody, they can still testify against him. And there's no Fifth Amendment for them and no way they can be prosecuted.

If Trump takes this direction, he better stay on the good side of the people he pardons. Like, if he pardons Manafort, he better also be ready to him hire him, and for a lot of money, because Manafort still owes the Russian mob big-time. There's a bond of guilt between accomplices. Take away that bond, and they could say anything. 

So, what might Trump be guilty of? I sat down and came up with an incomplete list: 


Money Laundering, (hiding the funds that bought off Stormy Daniels), conspiracy to commit money laundering (with Cohen), profiteering (Mar-a-Lago), espionage (holding secret meetings with Russian officials, and giving them secrets), receiving stolen goods (Democratic emails), conspiracy to commit cybercrime (agreeing to knowingly receive and use stolen emails), obstruction of justice (attempts to strongarm Comey, the Firing of Comey, the threats of Firing Mueller, the firing of FBI officials who helped Comey. There are many counts here), fraud (the bailout of ZTE, done for a bribe), violating campaign finances laws (Stormy Daniels again), insider trading (revealing the unemployment levels before it was officially released) . . .

I feel sorry for Mueller. It's a feast of riches. How's he ever going to narrow that down. We have a President who breaks laws constantly. But he'll stay in office for as long as Republicans in Congress continue to protect him, or until they're replaced.