Big picture, I do think this is a brilliant chess move by the white hats. By pardoning Hunter with a blanket pardon for crimes he has not yet been charged (which has no precedent), the likely movement of the chess pieces based on fear and self preservation would be to take this very action. I think we will see many more of these threats from the NPCs/pawns. It may become an unstoppable Tsunami going all the way to the top.

thanks for your informative post, as usual