My only guess is that it may free up his pension. He currently has very little to his name but his pension in the military and congress would allow him to live relatively comfortable.
His first sentence is misunderstood dicta. Accepting a pardon is not an admission of guilt, legally. But yes, state crimes cannot be pardoned by the president. There's a lot of evidence to go after Bannon.
There was a weird line I read about pardons in that the people can't plead the 5th should they be compelled to testify in court. But why would they show up in court for the thing they're pardoned from anyway?
He allegedly had a team of people meeting with Trump people about a pardon -- this team was also staying at the Trump hotel spending large amounts of money.
We've been discussing this. My understanding is that even if someone has been pardoned they can still be subpoena'd regarding the issue they were pardoned for. So if it was a Congressional hearing regarding the wall construction Bannon could still be called before Congress to testify. A pardon is essentially a grant of immunity so he an no longer refuse to testify based upon incriminating himself regarding that situation. If he doesn't testify he would then be subject to contempt of Congress charges which he doesn't have a pardon for.
Guess perjury aint part o' the pardon package. That's probably a factor among the things that spooked Trump into not doing himself and his family...