Bruce Lehrmann considering sit-down television interview
Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has spoken with at least two television networks about conducting a sit-down interview in what would be his first public comments after ACT prosecutors dropped a charge against him over the alleged sexual assault of Brittany Higgins.
Multiple media sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no plans are finalised, said Lehrmann has held initial talks with Nine Entertainment Co and Seven West Media about being interviewed, over the alleged assault in Parliament House in March, 2019. The sources said the talks are in the early stages and there is no guarantee an interview will go ahead. A spokesperson for Lehrmann declined to comment.
Bruce Lehrmann: In talks with networks about sit-down interview.Credit:Rhett Wyman
The talks have coincided with widespread reports Lehrmann is considering taking legal action against a range of media outlets, including The ABC, The Australian and Paramount. High-profile defamation lawyer Mark O’Brien has confirmed publicly he is representing Lehrmann.
Lehrmann was charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent after Higgins accused him of raping her in the office of their then-boss, Liberal minister Linda Reynolds, after a night out drinking with colleagues.
Lehrmann had denied ever having sex with Higgins and described himself as behaving like a “gentleman” on the night. The first trial was cut short on October 27, after 12 days of evidence and submissions in the ACT Supreme Court and five days of deliberations, because of juror misconduct.
On December 2, the retrial was abandoned and the charges against Lehrmann were dropped because of serious concerns about Higgins’ mental health.
The precise timing of when Lehrmann began talks with each television network is unclear. Nine sources said the broadcaster would not run an interview if he requests payment, while money has not been discussed with executives at Seven. Nine, the owner of this masthead, declined to comment. Seven also declined to comment.
Any interview is unlikely to take place before Lehrmann decides whether to progress with “legal remedies”, including an unfair dismissal claim and defamation by media outlets.
Higgins’ version of events was first reported in the media in a sit-down interview with former Sunday Project host Lisa Wilkinson and in an article by news.com.au’s political editor Samantha Maiden. Lawyers for Higgins have given notice that they will sue former Liberal ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash as well as the Commonwealth for about $3 million.
Since Higgins went public in February 2021, the allegations and trial have been the subject of extensive local and international media coverage and scrutiny.
This week the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions released to The Guardian media outlet a letter in which DPP Shane Drumgold SC reportedly complained to ACT police chief Neil Gaughan that police engaged in a “very clear campaign to pressure” him not to prosecute Lehrmann.
The federal police union has flagged plans to refer the release of the unredacted letter to the Office of the Australian Information Commission and the ACT Ombudsman as a possible breach of FOI laws.
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