A judge in Washington, D.C., has stated that Prince Harry's visa records will be subject to "maximum disclosure as long as it doesn't violate privacy."
The Daily Mirror reported that Judge Carl Nichols requested that the Department of Homeland Security request redactions to Harry's documents or "continued withholdings" in anticipation of the potential release of certain documentation, as The New York Post reported.
This decision is just one component of a high-stakes litigation with the Heritage Foundation.
The conservative-leaning foundation has contended that Harry should not have been permitted to relocate to the United States as a result of his prior drug use.
Heritage is interested in determining whether the Duke of Sussex, as he described in his book Spare, lied on his visa documents about his use of cannabis, cocaine, magic mushrooms, and ayahuasca.
According to the think tank, he should not have been admitted to the United States if he had been truthful, and they maintain that the public has a right to know whether he was treated favorably by immigration officials.
The judge maintained the confidentiality of his rationale for dismissing the think tank's argument, despite the fact that the case was dismissed in September.
Nevertheless, Heritage has been attempting to overturn or vacate the ruling, and Nichols suggested that it might have at least some success while speaking during a hearing on Wednesday.
The Sun quoted him as advocating for the greatest amount of publication that could be achieved without infringing upon Harry's privacy, and he added, "In my view that has to happen."
Harry's files have been perused by Nichols in secret, and he will have a general understanding of their contents.
His suggestion that certain documents could be redacted and subsequently released suggests that Heritage may obtain at least a portion of the information it is pursuing. Specifically, was Harry questioned about his past drug use, and what was he admitted to.
The case was abruptly terminated in September, with the court's rationale for siding with the Department of Homeland Security being kept confidential in order to protect Harry's privacy.
Heritage counsel stated that this denied them the opportunity to contest the interpretation of critical documents in court.
Wednesday's hearing at federal court in Washington, D.C. was the first since President Donald Trump's re-election.
Heritage had argued that Joe Biden's previous administration had been safeguarding Harry, and Trump himself stated in March 2024:
"We'll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they'll have to take appropriate action."
Although there is no indication that the Department of Homeland Security will alter its stance under Trump and cease to pursue the case, Heritage appears to have emerged with a more positive outlook than it did in September.
