Former minister Linda Reynolds has denied trying to interfere in the criminal trial of a man accused of raping her former staffer Brittany Higgins.
Higgins alleges she was raped by former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann inside Reynolds' ministerial office weeks before the 2019 federal election was called.
Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty in the ACT Supreme Court to sexual intercourse without consent.
While giving evidence in the trial on Monday, it was revealed that Reynolds sought access to the transcripts of Higgins' evidence because she was curious about what had been said.
However, she was told this request was "inappropriate" and she did not receive the transcripts.
Prosecutor Shane Drumgold asked the senator why she had messaged Lehrmann's defence team about a potential line of questioning two hours after Higgins began her evidence.
Drumgold accused her of trying to coach the cross-examination of Higgins because she was politically invested in the outcome of the case, two suggestions which she denied.
It was also revealed Reynolds' partner has been sitting in court throughout the proceedings, but she denied he had relayed any details of the case to her.
Reynolds said she knew few details about Higgins' alleged rape in 2019 and did not consider the former staffer a liability to the Liberal Party.
The court previously heard Higgins did not pursue a police complaint because during a meeting with Reynolds the week after the alleged assault, the conversation turned to the impact it could have on the Liberal Party.
When Drumgold put to Reynolds that her dominant concern in that meeting was the impending election, she strenuously denied it.
"I categorically and utterly reject that assertion," she said.
Reynolds told the court she knew few details about the night of the alleged assault, other than there had been a security breach of her ministerial suite.
She said Higgins was apologetic and embarrassed about the breach.
When Higgins became upset while disclosing details about waking up the following morning and getting dressed, Reynolds said she recommended talking to the police.
She told the court she suggested Higgins talk to someone more qualified.
Earlier, Liberal senator Michaelia Cash denied the former government covered up Higgins' alleged rape, agreeing it would be political suicide to do so.
Cash also said she did not know about the rape accusation until 2021.
The court has previously heard Higgins, who was employed by Cash between 2019 and 2021, talked to her about the alleged assault several times.
But appearing via video link on Monday, Cash said although she was told there had been a security breach in a ministerial office, she was not told about the alleged sexual assault.
She said Higgins disclosed she and Lehrmann had entered Reynolds' office after a night out drinking and she had fallen asleep there.
Cash said she did not recall talking to Reynolds about the breach.
Asked by Drumgold if an alleged assault between ministerial staffers would be "politically embarrassing", Cash said, "absolutely not".
She said she did not understand the political connection, but an assault allegation would need to be addressed.
When Lehrmann's defence lawyer, Steven Whybrow, suggested it would be "political suicide" for a government to try and cover up a sexual assault allegation, Cash agreed.
Cash said when she learned about the alleged assault in 2021 she told Higgins she would be supported "every step of the way".
The trial continues on Tuesday.
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2022-10-17 08:06:31Z
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