- In February, a group of experts argued that the details of the March 2020 application should be made public.
- The Duke of Sussex admitted to using cocaine and other drugs in his memoir Spare
US government lawyers are fighting to keep “law enforcement” documents related to Prince Harry’s visa application secret, claiming there would be a “stigma associated” if they were released.
The argument is contained in a 53-page court transcript that was due to be published last night.
The news comes after a hearing in February in which a group of experts argued that details of the Duke of Sussex’s visa application in March 2020 (in particular, how he responded to questions about drug use) They should be made public.
In the court transcript, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attorneys say Harry has a right to privacy and that his visa documents should remain sealed.
In response to a question from the judge about the “privacy interest that the government is asserting on behalf of the duke,” DHS attorney John Bardo responded: “Well, many of these records, Your Honor, are police records.”
Prince Harry pictured at the Invictus Games 10th anniversary service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8. US government lawyers are fighting to keep “law enforcement” documents related to Prince Harry’s visa application secret, claiming there would be a “stigma associated” if they were released.
Harry pictured this month in Lagos with his wife Meghan Markle (far right) and Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff Christopher Musa (far left), his wife Lilian Musa (second left), the governor of Lagos State , Babajide Sanwo-Olu (third right) and his wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu (third left)
“So there is a stigma associated with being mentioned in a police record.”
He added that the records contained “confidential law enforcement tools and techniques.”
It is the first time police records have been mentioned in relation to the duke’s visa case.
And while it is currently unclear which records are being referenced, a Los Angeles-based immigration attorney said last night: “Police records could refer to police, FBI, airport police, secret service, military police or even the highway patrol. The word that jumps out is “stigma.” It is not a word one would expect to see on a routine visa application.
“It’s a very unusual word that you don’t often see in cases like this and it begs the question: what is there that could attach a stigma to Prince Harry’s request?
“There’s no way to know until the records are made public.”
Conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation is suing DHS to try to force the release of all documents related to how Harry entered (and continues to live) in the United States. Visa applicants must answer yes or no to the question: ‘Are you or have you ever been a drug addict or addict?’
In his memoir Spare (pictured), Harry admitted to using cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana.
Judge Carl Nichols (pictured) is reviewing the documents privately and is expected to make a judgment “within weeks” on whether they should be made public.
In his memoir Spare, Harry admitted to using cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana.
The Heritage Foundation has argued that the autobiography meant the duke had waived any right to privacy. However, DHS lawyer Mr. Bardo said Spare “is neither sworn testimony nor evidence.”
Judge Carl Nichols is reviewing the documents privately and is expected to make a judgment “within weeks” on whether they should be made public.