A judge has ruled that the visa application file must be made public. That’s right. Now, we’ve discussed the issue of redactions before, and the question remains—how much will actually be revealed? We’ll have to wait and see. But make no mistake—this is a colossal loss for the client, a serious setback for the King’s son. And as much as I want to go all out and celebrate, maybe even crack open a bottle of bubbly (or as Meghan and her brunch buddies like to call it, “shamps”), we have to stay grounded for now.
The ruling states that the visa records must be made public by Tuesday at the latest. Judge Carl Nichols has set the deadline and approved the redactions proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stating that they are appropriate. While that aspect might be a minor letdown, this decision is still a huge win.
Right now, the only reason I’m holding back on full-blown celebration mode is that I want to see the actual documents on Tuesday. What will be revealed? Will the redactions be so heavy that we learn next to nothing? That remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure—the client is sitting in his Montecito fortress, probably sweating bullets, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s trickling down to places we don’t even want to imagine.
Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves, but let’s talk about why this is so significant. The released documents could potentially include immigration forms where the client had to disclose whether he was a drug user. And let’s not forget, we already have video evidence discussing these forms and what they typically include. It’s literally just one simple question—did he tell the truth?
Personally, I’m calling it right now—I believe he lied. But I still need to see that application with my own eyes. I want to see his name on it. We’re not asking for personal details like his phone number or address, but we need to confirm if he even completed the necessary paperwork. My gut tells me he didn’t because he thought he could get away with it, banking on his royal status.
Now, if he actually did submit a visa application properly, then fair enough. But the real issue is whether he was honest. We all suspect he wasn’t. The DHS lawyers previously stated that three documents would be released with redactions, while a fourth will remain sealed.
