Yes, people seem to ignore that point and forget that in the 1960s, Robert F Kennedy was John F Kennedy’s AG. No way they didn’t talk, collaborate, and approach the Department of Justice and FBI to benefit the Kennedy president.
Of course not. But even without backdoor or family connections, a president has the full, unquestioned authority to start, stop or personally conduct an investigation. He does NOT have to defer to DOJ, or the FBI etc.
The pardon power is a subset of that principle.
AND he can appoint a Special Counsel to go after the seditionists for the last 7 years.