Trump definitely should have pardoned him. He helped Tump get elected by exposing the swamp.
Rumor I heard was McConnell told Trump if he pardoned him that he and swamp would prevent him from ever running again. We have allowed a corrupt non free country to develop from the very top.
That's a lousy excuse. The same was said if Trump pardoned the Jan 6 trespassers.
A true leader does what is right because it is right. He should've told McConnell, "Try it. I dare you."