Linda Reynolds threatens to sue Tanya Plibersek for defamation over Brittany Higgins TV interview

Linda Reynolds is threatening to sue Tanya Plibersek for defamation over comments she made about the former Defense Secretary’s knowledge of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations.

The Liberal senator sent the environment minister a defamatory message about comments she made on Sunrise Tuesday morning. The Australian reported.

The comments that led to the legal action centered on Ms. Higgins’ allegations that she was sexually assaulted by Bruce Lehrmann while they both worked in Senator Reynolds’ office.

Ms Reynolds has told Ms Plibersek she has 28 days to issue a signed apology and withdraw her comments.

She also asks that her legal costs be covered and that an “appropriate amount be paid to compensate for the damage caused by the publication.”

Lehrmann denies the allegations and in 2022 a criminal trial came to an end for misconduct by a juror.

Ms Plibersek said on Tuesday: ‘The central point here is that a young woman claimed she had been at work and it had been improperly investigated, even covered up by her employers.’

According to the publication, Ms Reynolds will argue that Ms Plibersek’s comments implied she “acted to cover up or hide the commission of a criminal offence” and “acted improperly while investigating Brittany Higgins’ allegations”.

“Each of the above allegations is completely false, unfounded and constitutes a serious defamation against my client,” read a notice of concern.

“You have presented an inaccurate and damaging portrayal of my client, which has led to harmful speculation among the public about my client’s conduct.”

Mrs Higgins herself was critical of Mrs Reynolds’ handling of her complaint at the time, and Mrs Reynolds famously referred to Mrs Higgins as a ‘lying cow’ in an open space of her office at Parliament House.

Ms Plibersek said on Tuesday: ‘The central point here is that a young woman claimed she had been at work and it had been improperly investigated, even covered up by her employers.’

The Liberal Senator paid damages to Ms Higgins (left) over the comments, which were later donated to the Canberra Rape Crisis Center

The conclusion at the time was that Ms. Reynolds questioned whether Ms. Higgins had been raped at all — but Senator Reynolds claims she was responding to allegations that she and Chief of Staff Fiona Brown had not supported the young staffer.

Ms Reynolds and Ms Brown have continuously claimed to have provided support to Ms Higgins, while the former staffer claims she believed her job was on the line.

The Liberal senator paid Ms Higgins damages for the comments, which were later donated to the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre.