Bruce Lehrmann wondered if he will sue ‘Brittany Higgins’ on Channel Seven Spotlight

Bruce Lehrmann is questioned about a possible lawsuit against Brittany Higgins during an explosive tell-all interview on 7News Spotlight.

Mr Lehrmann will appear on the Channel Seven program on Sunday evening following the release of former judge Walter Sofronoff’s 839-page report on the handling of Ms Higgins’ rape trial.

The months-long investigation into the Higgins v Lehrmann trial resulted in a scathing assessment of the conduct of ACT’s Director of Prosecutions, Shane Drumgold.

Ms Higgins alleges that Mr Lehrmann raped her in 2019 in Parliament after a work party – an allegation he strongly denies.

The first trial in October 2022 was called off after a juror brought outside sources into the jury room. The charges against Mr. Lehrmann were then all dropped due to concerns about Ms. Higgins’ mental health.

On Monday, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr criticized Mr Sofronoff for ‘breach of his good faith’ by releasing the Commission of Inquiry’s report early and sharing it with journalists before it could be released by the government.

Mr Barr said the former judge explained to him that he had provided a copy of the report to a broadcast journalist and a newspaper columnist, a move the prime minister has described as an ‘error of judgement’.

Ahead of the bombshell interview, Mr Lehrmann told Daily Mail Australia that his side of the story will soon be revealed.

“I have plenty to say after the mess of a press conference today, but I’ll wait until I sit down with Liam Bartlett again this Sunday on 7News Spotlight,” he said.

Most of the interview will focus on Mr. Lehrmann’s upcoming legal action against the ACT over the botched trial.

However, Seven hinted in a new promo clip on Friday that he may also be planning a lawsuit against Ms Higgins.

In the clip, Mr. Lehrmann can be seen looking concerned after being asked if he will “sue her (Mrs. Higgins) for libel?”

Mr. Lehrmann will also release his response to the “damaging” investigative findings against the man who attempted to prosecute but failed to prosecute, Mr Drumgold.

In an advertisement for the programme, Mr Lehrmann told the camera: ‘We knew we were being played, just not how badly’.

Former Defense Secretary Linda Reynolds, the liberal senator whose office alleges Ms. Higgins was raped, will also appear in the episode.

Meanwhile, Minister Barr revealed that Mr Sofronoff could soon face legal action himself after admitting to releasing his report to two journalists from The Australian and the ABC – before it was released by the territory’s government.

The media has declined to comment or disclose their sources.

“He violated his good faith to me by releasing that report before legally delivering it to whom he was intended,” Barr told a news conference Monday.

When asked if he would like to see Mr Sofronoff charged, Mr Barr said: ‘We are considering our options, as I have outlined’.

Mr Barr said he had not received an apology from the retired judge.

“He has tried to give an explanation,” he added.

The ACT government has agreed to eight of the ten recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and has agreed in principle to two others.

It ruled that it was appropriate to prosecute the case, based on the information available to ACT Policing and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Drumgold.

However, the report was scathing about Mr Drumgold’s conduct at trial.

He has since retired.