The legal tussle over the disclosure of Prince Harry’s US visa should be reignited, following claims that the US government made certain submissions in secret.
The duke admitted to using marijuana, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms in his controversial memoir Spare, which is being re-released again in the UK today in paperback form, prompting a lawsuit from conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation.
They argued that the government should release records about Harry’s US visa application to reveal whether his drug use was declared, the Mirror reports.
The Washington-based foundation suggested that the “widespread and continuous” coverage of Harry’s drug use raised doubts about whether the government had ‘properly vetted’ the prince and followed correct procedures when granting him entry into the country.
The group maintained that US law “generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry”. However, last month, a US judge ruled that Harry’s application should remain confidential.
Judge Carl Nichols stated that “the public does not have a strong interest in disclosure of the duke’s immigration records”, adding: “Like any foreign national, the duke has a legitimate privacy interest in his immigration status.”
The Heritage Foundation has reignited a row by filing another court document, claiming it was denied access to private submissions made to the judge by the Biden administration.
The 13-page motion, filed on Tuesday, describes the case as ‘unique’ and complex, but also alleges “ample evidence of agency bad faith”, which it says “severely compromises [Heritage’s] ability to prepare arguments on appeal”.
The lawsuit was initially launched by the Heritage Foundation after a Freedom of Information request for the duke’s records was turned down by the Department for Homeland Security (DHS). In his explosive memoir, which is being re-released in paperback in the UK today, Harry admitted that cocaine “didn’t do anything for me”, but added: “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.”
He also shares an experience with magic mushrooms, saying: “I stared at the bin. It stared back. ‘What-staring? ‘ Then it became… a head. I stepped on the pedal and the head opened its mouth. A huge open grin.”
During an online chat with trauma expert Gabor Maté, Harry discussed his use of hallucinogens, explaining: “It was the cleaning of the windscreen, the removal of life’s filters – these layers of filters. It removed it all for me and brought me a sense of relaxation, relief, comfort, a lightness that I managed to hold back for a period of time.”
US visa applications specifically probe into the applicant’s current and past drug use, which can potentially hinder the application process. Extensive drug use can result in applications being turned down, although immigration officers exercise their judgement considering a variety of factors.
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