Granted completely that pardons have been abused in the past. Sometimes for at least arguably wise reasons, and sometimes for reasons most craven and foul.
Although I was a right-centrist at the time and am a card-carrrying Progressive now, I would argue both then and now that Ford’s pardon of Nixon was in fact a sound decision for the good of the nation that did deliver ongoing net benefits. Clinton pardoning his brother, not so much.
As to the DFP, nothing he touches turns to anything but shite for all.