MELBOURNE, Australia – The Australian Minister of Defense on Friday settled a defamation charge and agreed to pay damages to a former assistant she called a ‘lying cow’ after the woman was raped in the parliament building.
The minister, Linda Reynolds, withdrew the remark in private after lawyers for former assistant Brittany Higgins wrote a letter to me last week. Sent Reynolds in which they asked for a public apology for the comments which were ‘derogatory and belittled’. According to local news reports, the remark is described as ‘defamatory about the client’s good character and impeccable reputation’.
Last week, me. Reynolds issued a formal apology, saying she never billed Ms. Higgins did not question. On Friday, in a short public statement, the minister withdrew the comments, which she said “never” intended to make public.
“I did not mean it in the sense that it was understood,” she said. Reynolds said.
It was not immediately clear how many me. Reynolds agreed to pay damages. In a text message, the minister’s office did not want to disclose the amount. Me. Higgins did not immediately respond to calls or text messages. But she said in a statement that damages be donated beyond the cost of her legal costs to a charity that supports survivors of sexual assault.
Higgins said last month that she had been assaulted by an associate in the minister’s office two years ago, while working as a media adviser to Ms. Reynolds worked. Mrs Higgins said she, after telling the minister and other staff members, felt she would lose her job if she reported it to the police and was not supported by Reynolds. Ms Higgins has since lodged a formal complaint with Australian police.
She also said Reynolds was questioned in the same room days after her assault.
Last week, news.com.au reported that the Minister of Defense to Ms. Referred to Higgins as a “lying cow” for staff members in her office after Higgins emerged. Some staff members at the time expressed concern, and Ms. Reynolds apologized to them, saying it was a “stressful time”, according to news.com.au.
Higgins said Reynolds’ language about her is further evidence of the toxic workplace culture that occurs behind closed doors in Parliament. ‘
In response to the withdrawal on Friday, Ms. Higgins said in her statement: “I am glad the minister has now withdrawn her comments and I accept her apology to me.” She added: “It has been a very challenging period for me and I want to reiterate that the only reason I have chosen to come forward is to help others.”