Linda Reynolds Vows to Pursue Defamation Case Against Brittany Higgins and Partner

Former Coalition Minister Linda Reynolds has broken her silence and vowed to pursue a defamation case against Brittany Higgins and her partner David Sharaz. This comes after a Federal Court judgment in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case, which found that Lehrmann had, on the balance of probabilities, raped Higgins in Reynolds' office in Parliament House in 2019.

Justice Michael Lee rejected allegations that Reynolds and others had attempted to cover up the incident, stating that the claims were "objectively short on facts but long on speculation". Reynolds said the judgment had "set the record straight" and corrected the false narrative that had "ruined lives and careers". She remains committed to "fully vindicating" her reputation through the defamation case against Higgins and Sharaz, which is listed for trial in July.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also defended Reynolds, calling her a person of "great honour and integrity" and suggesting that Higgins and Sharaz should issue a full apology to Reynolds. The ruling also raised questions about a $2.4 million compensation payment made to Higgins by the Commonwealth.

Why this matters: This case highlights the ongoing impact of the alleged rape incident at Parliament House in 2019 and the subsequent public fallout. It also highlights the importance of carefully examining claims and evidence in high-profile cases that can have significant consequences for those involved.

Reynolds said the cover, narrative was a "demonstrably false narrative" and that she and Fiona Brown had lost their careers and had their reputations destroyed. She plans to continue her defamation actions against Higgins and Sharaz to fully vindicate her reputation. "The judgment has set the record straight and in doing so has ruined lives and careers," Reynolds stated.

Key Takeaways

• Former minister Linda Reynolds to sue Brittany Higgins for defamation.
• Court ruled Higgins was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in Reynolds' office.
• Court rejected claims of a cover-up, calling them "short on facts".
• Opposition leader Dutton defended Reynolds as a person of "integrity".
• Ruling raises questions about $2.4M compensation paid to Higgins.