Bruce Lehrmann takes a veiled swipe at Brittany Higgins over leaked audio to Lisa Wilkinson
EXCLUSIVE: Bruce Lehrmann takes a veiled swipe at Brittany Higgins after a leaked chat with Lisa Wilkinson about sabotaging his political career – which also reveals she knew people would identify him as her alleged rapist
- Bruce Lehrmann takes a shot at Brittany Higgins
- She told Lisa Wilkinson that he would run for Wentworth’s seat
- She said she wanted people to identify him and stop his career
Bruce Lehrmann has taken a swipe at comments Brittany Higgins made during a private chat with Lisa Wilkinson, cheekily editing his Instagram biography to say he is a ‘future legal Liberal MP for Wentworth’.
Mr Lehrmann’s biography, which was updated on Friday, was a reference to comments Ms Higgins made during a five-hour taped meeting with her fiancé David Sharaz, Wilkinson and Channel 10 producer Angus Llewellyn in January 2021.
The conversation, obtained by Daily Mail Australia, was in preparation for an upcoming interview with Wilkinson on The Project, in which Ms Higgins first publicly alleged that Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House in March 2019.
He has always denied the allegations.
During the pre-show meeting, Ms. Higgins could be heard describing Mr. Lehrmann’s position in political spheres when she said he was a “throwback” Liberal staffer who would “eventually run for a seat.”
Bruce Lehrmann changed his Instagram bio on Friday to say he was a ‘future legal Liberal MP for Wentworth’
Ms Higgins acknowledged that the network would not be able to name Mr Lehrmann as her alleged attacker for legal reasons, but said she hoped “enough people” could identify him as the alleged rapist and stop his political career.
“If enough people can add two and two together, one day he won’t be pre-selected for the seat of Wentworth, or anything like that,” she said.
The seat of Wentworth largely covers Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs and includes Bondi, Watsons Bay, Vaucluse, Rose Bay, Double Bay, along with parts of Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point.
Mr Lehrmann grew up in Toowoomba, South West Queensland. He then lived in Canberra until he quit his job as a parliamentary assistant in 2019.
Moments before making the remarks about Mr Lehrmann running for the Sydney seat, she pointed out the reasons why former colleagues might identify him.
“The people who know in the party will know, it’s two and two,” she said.
“He was in that office, they’ll know, and that’s what matters.”
Brittany Higgins is pictured on The Project in 2019 when she first publicly claimed Bruce Lehrmann raped her
Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) denies having had any sexual contact with Ms Higgins
Mr. Sharaz agreed, “And he will shoot himself when it suits.”
Mrs. Higgins said, “And that’s the point.”
Mr. Sharaz interjected, “That’s good enough for me.”
Mr. Lehrmann was not mentioned during The Project interview, but he launched a defamation suit over the interview against the network and Wilkinson in March.
He claims he was slandered because former colleagues and people in parliamentary circles were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.
The former staffer is also suing the ABC for broadcasting an address Ms. Higgins gave to the National Press Club.
The case will be heard in November.
Mr Lehrmann’s Instagram account made headlines earlier this year when it was revealed he was back on the platform after a two-year hiatus.
His biography includes a version of a quote by the American author Mark Twain: “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth puts on its shoes.”
Although not mentioned in the Lisa Wilkinson interview with Ms Higgins (pictured together), Mr Lehrmann claims his identity would have been known in political circles