Prince Harry is in the eye of the storm due to controversial revelations about his drug use in his memoir “Spare”.
These admissions have called into question the validity of his U.S. visa, generating a scandal that could have serious consequences for the Duke of Sussex.
Prince Harry’s visa controversy
A Washington think tank has requested access to Harry’s visa application to investigate whether he lied about his drug use.
This key document could uncover whether the duke’s confessions in his book contradict the ironclad anti-drug rules imposed to obtain a visa in the United States.
John Bardo of the Department of Homeland Security has questioned the veracity of Harry’s statements in his book, stating that “just because you say something in a book doesn’t make it true.”
The U.S. government has argued in court that the Duke’s confessions are not hard “evidence” of his drug use and could be a strategy to “sell books.”
The uproar has been such that the Heritage Foundation has requested Harry’s expulsion from the United States and the publication of his immigration records.
In a court filing, Heritage alleges that media coverage has raised the question of whether the Duke of Sussex was properly admitted in light of the fact that he has publicly admitted to the essential elements of a series of drug-related offenses.
The foundation is seeking to determine whether Harry admitted to using illegal drugs prior to obtaining his visa.
Under the regulations, visa applicants are asked whether they are or have been addicted to drugs and whether they have violated laws related to controlled substances.
Judge Carl J. Nichols is expected to issue a ruling in the coming weeks on this controversy.
Sources close to the duke claim he responded truthfully to his request, while the foundation’s lawyers maintain that the documents are of “immense public interest.”
This delicate moment for Harry comes on top of other family challenges, such as the ailing health of his father, King Charles III, and his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.
The Duke has admitted in recent interviews that he has considered U.S. citizenship, but that it is not a priority at this time.
In his book “Spare,” Harry confessed to using marijuana, cocaine, magic mushrooms, and the Amazonian hallucinogenic plant ayahuasca, describing the positive effects of this plant on his life.
These revealing admissions have called into question the legality of his immigration status in the United States.