August 11th 2024.
Senator Linda Reynolds' legal battle to clear her name from allegations of mishandling Brittany Higgins' rape case is about to resume with testimony from her husband. The former Minister of Defense is suing her former staff member for defamation over social media posts that she claims have damaged her reputation. This past week, Reynolds took the stand in a Perth court to share details of the alleged rape and the events leading up to this current dispute.
The senator alleges that Higgins and her now-husband, David Sharaz, fabricated a false narrative that portrayed her as the villain in a political cover-up. This story included accusations of mistreatment, exclusion, bullying, harassment, and threats. Higgins' lawyer, Rachael Young, argued that her client showed immense courage in speaking out about the alleged rape and the toxic work environment in Parliament House.
The defense ridiculed the notion that Higgins had targeted Senator Reynolds in an attempt to harm her when she spoke to journalists Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden about the mishandling of her case. This media attention caused a political firestorm for the Morrison government and led to Reynolds' breakdown. The Labor Party was accused of weaponizing Higgins' rape accusation and using it to attack the government for their mishandling of the situation.
During her testimony, Reynolds described the social media posts that followed as "creepy, incredibly hurtful, and threatening." She admitted that they left her feeling angry, depressed, and frustrated. One post, in particular, made her feel physically ill because it contained false allegations. The senator felt humiliated and in a bad state of mind when news of her breakdown became public.
Higgins' defense rests on the truth and the belief that it was reasonable to comment and express opinions on matters of public interest related to the government and politics. She is being sued for five social media posts made in 2022 and 2023. Reynolds had also filed a defamation suit against Sharaz, but he announced in April that he would no longer fight the case and agreed to a judgment.
The alleged rape occurred in 2019 when Higgins claimed that her colleague, Bruce Lehrmann, assaulted her in Reynolds' office. Lehrmann has denied these allegations, and his criminal trial was derailed due to juror misconduct. Higgins, who currently resides in France, is expected to testify in court later this month.
For those in need of support, you can contact 1800 RESPECT or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.
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