Does this mean he wouldn't have run this time if it weren't for his legal troubles?
I can't say for certain, I'm Australian and don't work with the US political admin (ie no inside line) but there's certainly been US insiders that have strongly hinted dodging massive mounting legal trouble was a major motivation for Trump to run again.
To be clear they may have been deadly serious, seriously joking, or both at the same time .. it's just that good a fit as a theory.
The Machiavellian move by Biden would have been a pardon conditioned on retiring from public service.
Many people are saying.