A conservative think tank's legal skirmish with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over Prince Harry's U.S. visa application could pose significant legal repercussions for the royal, with the potential for a perjury charge if it emerges he concealed his past drug use.
In his memoir, "Spare," the Duke of Sussex candidly revealed his consumption of cannabis, magic mushrooms, ayahuasca, and cocaine during his more rebellious years. The Heritage Foundation is now attempting to verify whether Prince Harry disclosed this aspect of his past during his U.S. visa application process or whether his royal status earned him leniency.
Asserting public interest, given Prince Harry's open discussion of his past in his book, the foundation is battling in court to obtain access to the 38-year-old's visa records. Nile Gardiner, Director of the Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, expressed confidence in the think tank's legal standing during an interview with Newsweek, following a detailed 75-minute hearing at the Federal Court in Washington D.C.
"There is a 100 percent possibility we could prevail," Gardiner told Newsweek. "The core of this case revolves around transparency and accountability, and it brings into question whether Immigration law is being enforced by U.S. authorities." Gardiner censured the Biden administration's "dismissive" attitude toward the matter.
The consequences for Prince Harry could be severe if the DHS is ordered to disclose his records, Gardiner stressed. A key point of contention is that the Biden administration is "making every possible effort to prevent the release."
Gardiner explained the potential fallout, stating, "If it turns out he was dishonest on a federal form, that amounts to perjury - a criminal offence. This is indeed a high stakes case."
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has so far denied the Heritage Foundation's request for access to Prince Harry's visa records, invoking privacy laws. In a letter submitted as evidence at Federal Court in D.C., the CBP insisted that the public interest put forth by the foundation does not supersede Prince Harry's privacy rights regarding his entry and exit records.
Gardiner dismissed the CBP's privacy argument as "ridiculous," considering Prince Harry's high-profile persona in America, his numerous public comments, and his best-selling book detailing his drug use.
A finding that Prince Harry did not disclose his past drug use could lead to his U.S. visa being revoked or even deportation. U.S. law prohibits entry to those with a history of illicit drug use. The Duke of Sussex relocated to California in 2020 with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2, after stepping back from royal duties in the U.K.
