Linda Reynolds fires back after Brittany Higgins’ apology – as bitter court battle looms

Brittany Higgins shared a cryptic Instagram post following Linda Reynolds’ blunt response to her ‘olive branch’ apology.

Ms Higgins apologized to her former boss, Linda Reynolds, following a landmark Federal Court ruling that found her former colleague, Bruce Lehrmann, guilty of rape.

The judgment was handed down in Lehrmann’s defamation case against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.

In his findings, Judge Michael Lee rejected Ms Higgins’ claims that Ms Reynolds was involved in a political cover-up of her sexual assault at Parliament House in 2019.

On Saturday, Ms Higgins wrote in a statement: ‘Senator Reynolds and Fiona Brown were also injured and for that I am sorry.

“My perceptions and feelings about what happened in the days and weeks after my rape are different from theirs.

“I deeply regret that we have not yet found common ground.”

Ms Reynolds shared her own statement on Sunday, saying she “appreciated” Ms Higgins’ apology and hoped the court ruling would “give her peace”.

However, she noted that her own legal action against Ms Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, was “never about the rape allegation.”

Instead, Ms Reynolds’ action centers on allegations that she “failed to support Ms Higgins”, which came at a “huge emotional and financial cost”.

“I fought for three years to expose the truth about my behavior,” she wrote.

“What still lies between us is not different perceptions. The fact is that Ms Higgins received our support and there was no cover-up. The common ground we find now must be based on the truth.

“As a matter of law, neither we nor Mr. Sharaz are bound by Judge Lee’s decision.

‘If Ms Higgins does not accept Judge Lee’s findings on the claims of cover-up and abuse, this will unfortunately have to be proven again at our trial which will take place in July this year.’

Ms Higgins shared a cryptic message on her Instagram Story shortly after Ms Reynolds’ statement was released.

‘Ah. Beautiful. Keep showing people the truth about who you really are,” Ms. Higgins wrote.

It comes as the countdown continues before Lehrmann will repair his tarnished reputation.

The court ruled earlier this week that Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins in their former boss’s office at Parliament House in March 2019 and dismissed his defamation case against Network Ten and TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson.

Appeals against a Federal Court ruling must be filed within 28 days – meaning Lehrmann only has 23 days left to appeal Judge Michael Lee’s ruling.

It is important to note that civil trials are held at a lower standard than those in criminal court.

Lehrmann previously faced a criminal trial over Ms. Higgins’ rape allegations, but the trial was abandoned due to juror misconduct.

A second trial was abandoned due to Ms Higgins’ deteriorating mental health.

More to come.