Trump's dilemma

It's reported that Trump will not grant pardons to his family members, Rudy G. nor himself before he leaves office.  Any outrageous pardons would push GOP senators to vote for impeachment.

What to do?  Protect my family, closest allies and myself from being charged with crimes and increase my chances of being convicted by the Senate. or leave my loved ones twisting in the wind and keep from being impeached.

I admit this is an over simplification. What would you do?  I think I would issue pardons.  If your going to be a bear you might as well be a Grizzly.

The answer is obvious. Trump will do what Trump feels is best for Trump (even if the actuality is otherwise). He'll throw anyone, including his family and his most loyal lackeys, to the wolves.

Issuing pardons isn't being a bear, it's being a snake. I sense that it just doesn't appeal to Trump, for the simple reason that granting a pardon acknowledges the beneficiary's guilt. If he pardoned himself, that would be a tacit admission that he's committed serious crimes. Likewise his family and stooges.

Think of it this way: would you feel happy if you got an embossed certificate from the White House, signed by Trump, pardoning you for all the crimes you committed?

I think Trump's Narcissistic personality disorder is preventing him from doing the smart thing for himself and his family.  Trump thinks if you admit something you did was wrong it shows you are weak.

If he pardons himself for the multiple crimes he likely committed he is admitting he committed those crimes. His thought process doesn't even allow him to get to the how pardons impact impeachment analysis. In his mind, he has done nothing wrong. Therefore, there is no need for a pardon.  He is a lot like his followers that take selfies of themselves committing felonies and then not understanding why the Feds show up to arrest them. 

He gave Bannon a get-outta-jail free card.       Bannon was taking money from MAGA disciples they thought was going to pay for the Mexico wall only to be used for Bannon's yacht instead.   I guess   It makes sense the man running the Trump charity would pardon somebody scamming donors out of their money.