The real check on the power of the President isn’t criminal prosecution, it’s not even clear that the law provides a way to charge and convict a sitting President with a crime. No matter what Mueller’s team finds Trump isn’t walking out of the White House in handcuffs.
Instead the final check on the President’s power is political—Congress’ power to impeach. The process bears some similarities to a criminal prosecution but it ultimately comes down to congress deciding enough is enough. Throwing pardons around willy-nilly might keep team Trump out of prison but if anything it would hasten his impeachment.
