After seeming closure five months prior, a lawsuit seeking to make Prince Harry’s private US visa records public is set to resume in court on Wednesday. The Duke of Sussex’s admission in his 2023 book, “Spare,” of past drug use during his teenage years prompted a right-wing US think tank to suggest he may have misrepresented information or received special treatment from the Biden administration. The Heritage Foundation initiated legal action against the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) after its Freedom of Information Act request for Harry’s application was denied, citing significant public interest.
In September 2024, the case concluded with a ruling that Harry’s immigration application would remain confidential due to his legitimate privacy rights. However, the case is now being reopened in a federal court in Washington D.C., following comments from former President Donald Trump expressing a lack of protection for the duke. The ongoing legal dispute revolves around whether the previous ruling should be overturned to disclose Prince Harry’s US visa application, considering his past drug use admissions.
Five months after his ruling, Judge Nichols has agreed to reopen the case. Lawyers for all parties have been ordered to appear in court for a “motion for relief from judgment” hearing in Washington DC on Wednesday. This development marks the first time such a situation has been seen in US courts since Donald Trump’s return to office last month.
The US President, with the authority to intervene and request the release of documents, had previously issued a warning that Harry could face consequences if he had provided false information about drug use on his US visa application. Trump expressed his views during a political conference in February, criticizing the Biden administration for what he perceived as being “too gracious” towards Harry and Meghan following their move to California in 2020.
In an interview with the Express, Trump stated, “I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was up to me.” Furthermore, during a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March last year, Trump emphasized that Harry should not receive special treatment. When questioned about potential consequences for Harry if he was found to have lied on his visa application, Trump stated firmly, “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied, they’ll have to take appropriate action.”
