Brittany Higgins: Australian senator sues alleged rape victim

Linda Reynolds says Brittany Higgins ruined her reputation by falsely accusing her of a political cover up.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersAustralian senator sues alleged rape victim for defamationGetty ImagesLinda Reynolds denies she tried to harass or silence Brittany HigginsAn Australian senator is suing a former staff member who says she was raped inside Parliament House for defamation, over claims the politician helped cover it up.

Brittany Higgins made global headlines in 2021 when she alleged she was sexually assaulted by a colleague at work, then pressured by her superiors to keep quiet.

In a high-profile trial beginning Friday, Senator Linda Reynolds is arguing Ms Higgins sullied her reputation with a series of social media posts.

But Ms Higgins is defending the accusations that her former boss tried to "harass" and "silence" her as true.

The trial is the latest chapter in a case which sparked massive protests, a string of legal battles, and several high-level inquiries over the conduct of the judiciary and culture in parliament.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2g2p2w4xwo

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