Assuming a righteous prosecution (look, this is a hypothetical analysis so play along) of Hunter Biden, they have the goods on him for so many crimes that he would certainly have to do time and it could spell impeachment, if not conviction impeachment and removal from office for Brandon.
There is limited downside for Joe Biden for pardoning his son. Joe is a one term president and he knows it. He has nothing to fear from poll numbers, they are already beyond recovery. He can plead for mercy as a man who has sustained a loss of wife and child confident that he can exploit those losses to justify pardoning his only remaining son just as smoothly as he is done in the past.
The limited downside, because there are so many crimes Hunter requires a plenary pardon and that means that he is open to testifying against his father and uncles after he is vested in such a pardon because there is no possibility of self-incrimination. If he is required to testify, Hunter has to be wary of perjury on the one hand or implicating his father and brothers on the other hand.
Hunter's perjury would be easy to prove in view of all the facts laid out in the laptop, in his emails, and travel records, in his tax returns and in the testimony of people like Bobulinski. So perjury is a distinct trap for Hunter and, therefore, a threat to Brandon.
A specific or serial pardon might be considered but that would have to embrace all of Hunter's potential crimes and that might be too difficult to pre-determine. In any event, the prosecution might offer him immunity in an effort to require his testimony which would put the Brandon family back in its original position without the benefit of a pardon for Hunter.
Pardon is the logical way for Brandon to proceed especially if he keeps in mind the history of Richard Nixon who in his turn was pardoned - for the good of the country- and Brandon might well expect such a favor in his turn. Throw in a pardon for the uncles and the family enjoys a clean getaway.
