Speaking of Papadopoulos: It seems pretty likely at this point that at least one of the individuals who have been charged as part of the Mueller investigation might get a pardon. Perhaps it will be former national security adviser Michael Flynn, the investigation of whom Trump allegedly once tried to curtail. Or perhaps it will be former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who, some believe, is avoiding cooperating with Mueller in the expectation that his charges will be waived. Or perhaps it will be some future individual who is charged by Mueller for crimes not yet made public. Having potential leverage over Trump seems a reasonably viable path to a pardon.<doc-sep>The Daily Beast Courtesy of AppleThe queen gave Prince Harry permission to make his documentary series on mental health with Oprah Winfrey, believing it would focus on military veterans, it was claimed today, and is reported to have been aghast when Harry used the five part Apple TV+ show to slam his father and the monarchy.“Those around the queen and Prince Charles are absolutely gobsmacked by what has happened,” a source described as being “close to Buckingham Palace” told DailyMail.com, adding, “It is a question of trust, and honestly any of that is hanging by a thread at the moment.“No one within the Palace circles has anything but sympathy for Harry's trauma and troubled life, but there is upset and discomfort at him sharing it on an international television show.“Certainly the intimate detail of his hardships paint a very negative picture of his family and upbringing. Many people have a different view.”The Mail’s sources claimed that the terms in which Harry had initially pitched the show to the queen were viewed as “clearly misleading.”The dramatic pushback from palace sources came as Apple announced that Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey are to host a follow up town hall-style event to their mental health documentary. Apple TV+ also said on Wednesday that the five-part show, The Me You Can’t See drove an increase in new viewers of 25 percent to the platform. Apple TV+ said that the new single spin-off show, entitled, The Me You Can’t See: A Path Forward will be available for free on Apple TV+ on Friday. It will feature Harry and Oprah talking to some of the “advisers and participants” in the original show for what Apple described as “a thought-provoking, wide-ranging conversation about mental health and emotional well-being, and where we go from here.”Prince Harry to Oprah: Prince Charles and the Royal Family ‘Bullied’ MeParticipants in the series included Lady Gaga, Glenn Close, mental health advocate and speaker Zak Williams (son of the late actor Robin Williams), and celebrity chef Rashad Armstead. Harry and Meghan’s Archewell website said that Friday’s show would feature Close and Williams along with other experts in the field who contributed to the original documentary series. The post on the Archewell site added, “The subjects go deeper into their own stories from the series, the experts share their guidance, and together they begin to answer the critical question: Where do we go from here?”Apple said last week’s show was particularly popular in the U.K., with Apple TV+ seeing “a 40 percent increase in average weekend viewership,” in that territory, according to a report in The Times.The news that Harry is to take to the airwaves again is likely to be received with weary resignation at Buckingham Palace. Although many family members and courtiers would prefer that Harry kept a lower profile, they now accept that is unlikely to happen in the near future.They will, however, likely hope that Harry will not use the discussion to again heap criticism on his family, specifically his father, who Harry accused of telling him he had to “suffer” in the original show because he had. Harry also suggested that Charles was damaged by the parenting he received from the queen and Prince Philip.Harry said, “My father used to say to me when I was younger, he used to say to both William and I, ‘Well, it was like that for me so it’s going to be like that for you,’” The Daily Beast reported. “That doesn’t make sense. Just because you suffered, that doesn’t mean your kids have to suffer. Actually quite the opposite. If you suffered, do everything you can to make sure that whatever negative experiences you had, you can make it right for your kids.”The royals subsequently hit back with a source telling the Mail on Sunday that the queen was “deeply upset” and that Charles was feeling “wretched” about the situation.However, today’s salvo, which comes close to outright accusing Harry of deceiving the queen, suggests a possible hardening of royal attitudes to Harry’s TV career. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.<doc-sep>President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE is in the process getting paperwork ready for dozens of pardons, according to a Wednesday report from CNN. The report comes after Trump pardoned conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza, and said he was considering pardoning businesswoman and TV personality Martha Stewart and commuting the sentence for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D). ADVERTISEMENT The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Trump is also leaning toward pardoning 63-year-old Alice Marie Johnson, who is serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug conviction, after meeting with celebrity Kim Kardashian West about the case. A White House official told the Post that the president has become obsessed with pardons, and could issue more in future weeks. Trump has already issued pardons to former Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former boxer Jack Johnson, former Navy sailor Kristian Saucier, and former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is running for Senate in Arizona. Trump also said on Monday that he holds the authority to pardon himself, but has not committed to doing so amid special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerSenate Democrats urge Garland not to fight court order to release Trump obstruction memo Why a special counsel is guaranteed if Biden chooses Yates, Cuomo or Jones as AG Barr taps attorney investigating Russia probe origins as special counsel MORE's probe into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia's election meddling. As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2018 Trump has not yet suggested pardoning any of the individuals indicted in Mueller's probe, but CNN reports some of the pardons reflect instances where he believes the Justice Department has overreached.<doc-sep>In an interview with The Washington Post Tuesday, Simona Mangiante Papadopoulos said that her husband had taken responsibility for his errors in dealing with the FBI. But she said she felt he had been used by forces who wanted to advance a narrative that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia. In fact, she said, he never conspired with Russia.<doc-sep>
President Trump may pardon dozens of convicted criminals in a show of power over the Justice Department that could also offer reassurance to those charged or possibly facing charges in the Russia investigation, a new report said Wednesday. Team Trump has drawn up paperwork to absolve at least 30 people convicted of federal crimes, CNN reported, citing sources. One of those is Alice Johnson, the 63-year-old Tennessee woman who was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 on non-violent drug charges. Kim Kardashian West huddled with Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Oval Office last week trying to convince the president to pardon her. Trump was leaning granting her wish, but his chief of staff, John Kelly, was trying to talk him out of it, the network reported, though it did not explain why. Trump last week pardoned conservative firebrand and fierce Barack Obama critic Dinesh D’Souza, and said he was also considering pardons for lifestyle maven Martha Stewart and commuting the sentence of crooked Illinois ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich. It was unclear whom the others under consideration could be. Trump claimed on Twitter Monday that under the Constitution he had the “absolute right” to pardon himself. “As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong? In the meantime, the never ending Witch Hunt, led by 13 very Angry and Conflicted Democrats (& others) continues into the mid-terms!” he wrote. D’Souza pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance laws in 2014. Stewart was convicted of lying to the FBI by then US Attorney for New York James Comey in 2004. Blagojevich was convicted on 17 charges related to corruption in office and sentenced to 15 years behind bars in June 2011. The president has already pardoned Arizona sheriff and immigration hardliner Joe Arpaio, Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff Scooter Libby, ex-Navy sailor Kristian Saucier and boxer Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion. Democrats and ethics watchdogs have warned that Trump’s flurry of pardons could send a signal to the president’s pals, such as former national security adviser Mike Flynn, who pleaded guilty of lying to the FBI, that they too could be off the hook. But when the president was asked whether he would pardon his longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen, whose home, office and hotel room were raided by the FBI, he snapped: “Stupid question.”