Read Bruce Lehrman’s extraordinary swipe at Brittany Higgins’ leaked book – after the Daily Mail revealed how he compared himself to Tibetan monks who set themselves on fire
Brittany Higgins’ leaked book was titled #NotJustADaughterTalked about Christmas parties and alcohol-fueled events
Brittany Higgins’ book was called #NotJustADaughter
Bruce Lehrman has launched an extraordinary attack on Brittany Higgins’ leaked memoir, slamming it as a work of ‘fantasy’.
Mr Lehrman issued the scathing statement on Monday night in response to questions about Ms Higgins’ draft book, tentatively titled #NotJustADaughter.
The raw manuscript, exclusively obtained by Daily Mail Australia, details various observations and comments about former MPs, Christmas parties, perks provided for staff and talks about alcohol-fuelled Question Time rituals.
Speaking months after her allegations against Mr Lehrman became public, Ms Higgins also compared herself to nuns who set themselves on fire during the Vietnam War – noting: ‘I felt like I had set myself on fire. It was a mass suicide protest.’
In his statement on Monday – first reported by Sky News Australia – Mr Lehrman said: ‘I’ve never been one for fiction or fantasy novels, I’ll stick with non-fiction and books based on fact.’
‘I can recommend Margaret Kanin SC’s biography, The Boxing Butterfly’ – he added, referring to a book by the top defense barrister and former NSW Crown prosecutor.
Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting that Ms Higgins made false claims in her draft, only that Mr Lehrman denied her claims.
Ms Higgins has always maintained her allegations that Mr Lehrman raped her in March 2019 in the Parliament House office of former Defense Minister Linda Reynolds. Likewise, Mr. Lehrman has always denied the allegations.
Bruce Lehrman (pictured) condemned Britney Higgins’ leaked book in a statement on Monday
Her statement on Monday also addressed rumors about her political ambitions, after she updated her Instagram bio in early July to say she was a ‘Potential Liberal MP to succeed Wentworth’.
The update was a swipe at a comment Ms Higgins made during a conversation with Lisa Wilkinson in January 2021 – she said she was a ‘legacy’ Liberal activist who would ‘eventually run for a seat’.
He named the seat of Wentworth, which is in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, as a possibility.
Mr Lehrman said on Monday: ‘Even though I’m from country NSW, I’m happy and excited about the prospect.’
‘Politics 101 never rules anything in or out, which is why the Prime Minister can backbench MPs ten times and get away with it.
Although Lisa Wilkinson was not named in the interview with Brittany Higgins (pictured together), Mr Lehrman argues that her identity was known in political circles.
‘But if the good people of Wentworth need help cleaning up from the long and unfortunate period of Malcolm Turnbull and a Till candidate representing them, I’m around.’
Mr. Lehrman’s trial was thrown out in October 2022 due to jury misconduct, and prosecutors later dropped charges amid concerns about the impact of a second trial on Ms. Higgins’ mental health.
Ms. Higgins was not named during The Project’s interview, but in March launched a defamation lawsuit against the network and Wilkinson over the interview.
She claims she was defamed because former colleagues and people in parliamentary circles were able to identify her as the alleged rapist.
The former political activist is suing the ABC for broadcasting Ms Higgins’ address to the National Press Club.
A hearing in that case is scheduled for November.