Fresh headache for Prince Harry as US visa fight returns to court for 1st time since Donald Trump returned to power
THE Duke of Sussex’s US visa application fight will return to court this week for the first time since Donald Trump returned to power.
US judge Carl Nichols previously ruled in September last year that the public did not have strong interest in the sharing of the prince’s immigration records.
Conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation had questioned why the duke was allowed into the US in 2020 following his reference to consumption of cocaine, marijuana, and psychedelic mushrooms in his book Spare.
Now, Judge Nichols has agreed to re-open the case and ordered lawyers for all parties to appear in court for a “motion for relief from judgement” hearing in the US capital on Wednesday.
The Heritage Foundation had asked for the judgement to be changed and it will be the first time the case has been in US courts since President Trump returned to office last month.
Prince Harry has been warned previously by the US president that he could face consequences if he lied about taking drugs on his US visa application.
President Trump said in a GB News interview with Nigel Farage in March last year that Harry should not receive preferential treatment.
Asked if the duke should have “special privileges” if he is found to have lied in his application, the president said: “No. We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action.”
He also previously vowed, before he was elected, that “Harry is on his own” if he became president again.
The president also has the power to intervene and can ask for the documents regarding his application to be released.
In his controversial memoir, the prince said cocaine “didn’t do anything for me”, adding: “Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me.”
The Heritage Foundation had brought the lawsuit against the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) following the rejection of a Freedom of Information Act request.
Claiming it was of “immense public interest”, the think-tank argued the documents should be released and said that US law “generally renders such a person inadmissible for entry” to the country.
It also said answers on the duke’s prior drug use in his visa application should have been disclosed as they could raise questions over the US government’s integrity.
In response to the legal claim, the DHS said: “Much like health, financial, or employment information, a person’s immigration information is private personal information.”
The submissions previously made by lawyer John Bardo on behalf of DHS also said no “publicly available information, shows that Prince Harry was ever convicted for a drug-related offence”.
He added that any suggestion from the Heritage Foundation of wrongdoing on behalf of the US government was “purely speculative”.
This comes as a royal expert recently revealed the duke’s visa fight is “concerning”.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show, News.com.au’s royal reporter Bronte Coy said: “The new US President has made no secret about his position on it.
“He’s been asked about it so many times over the years.
“I genuinely believe Donald Trump has much more important things to be dealing with.”
She added: “But it’s probably something that’s not going away especially as it continues to get this attention.
“I think that in itself will be concerning because The Heritage Foundation, who is the one pushing to have the application made public, has also lobbied and urged Donald Trump to intervene.
“It has said this is about accountability and no one is above the law which is also concerning if they maintain that level of profile on the case.”
How the Royal drama gripped UK and beyond
JAN 8, 2020: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they are to “step back as senior members” of the Royal Family and divide their time between the UK and North America.
JAN 18: Buckingham Palace announces an agreement has been reached for Harry “to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments”.
JAN 20: The Palace announces Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and will not receive public funds for royal duties. The couple say they intend to repay £2.4million of taxpayer money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.
MAR 3: Harry and the Queen meet for a four-hour conversation about Megxit.
MAR 9: Meghan and Harry attend the Commonwealth Day service – alongside William and Kate –their final royal event before giving up royal duties.
MAR 27: The couple move to Los Angeles after a brief stay in Canada.
JUNE: They buy an £11million mansion in Montecito, California.
SEPT: Netflix announces a huge $100million deal with the couple.
NOV: In an article in the New York Times, Meghan reveals she suffered a miscarriage four months earlier.
MAR 7, 2021: The couple give a US TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which the Duchess reveals her suicidal thoughts and accuses a member of the Royal Family of racism.
MAR 8: The Palace responds, saying the race issues raised are “concerning” and “while some recollections may vary” the matters will be “taken very seriously”.
APR 17: Harry attends the funeral of his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.
JUNE 4: Daughter Lilibet is born in a hospital in Santa Barbara, California.
JULY 1: Harry and William unite to unveil a statue of Diana at Kensington Palace.
JUNE 2022: The brothers come together for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and again two months later for her funeral. The state occasion is Meghan’s final visit to the UK.
DEC: Netflix series Harry & Meghan airs. The Duke says in one episode it had been “terrifying” to have his brother “scream and shout” at him about their future.
JAN 8, 2023: Harry is interviewed by ITV to publicise his controversial book Spare – published two days later – claiming it was “Meghan versus Kate”.
APR: Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with dad Charles before agreeing to attend the King’s Coronation in London.
MAY 6: Arriving alone for the ceremony, he sits two rows behind his brother and leaves soon after the service.
JUNE: Harry becomes the first senior royal in more than 130 years to give evidence in court, when he appears at the High Court for his case against Mirror Group Newspapers.
JULY: Streaming giant Spotify announces it is parting ways with the Suss-exes’ Archewell Audio brand, above, in a “mutual decision”.
SEPT: Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death with his father at Balmoral.
FEB 2024: Harry flies to the UK to be with his father. They meet for half an hour before Harry flies home. He does not meet William.
MAR: Meghan launches lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard, which posts just nine times on Instagram.
APR: A judge brands Harry’s legal appeal for taxpayer-funded security following his move abroad “frankly hopeless”.
MAY: Harry pays a brief visit to London for an event held two miles from where Charles was staying. They do not meet.
JAN 1, 2025: Meghan relaunches her Instagram account with a video shot by Harry on a beach near their US home.