John Pesutto previously claimed he made a ‘small’ contribution to costs to settle the matter
Ahead of the verdict being handed down in his defamation trial, it has been revealed John Pesutto paid a hefty sum to cover the legal bills of two women.
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Opposition Leader John Pesutto coughed up $50,000 to cover the legal bills of two women’s rights activists, after they accused him of insinuating they were linked to neo-Nazis.
Leaked emails have revealed key party ally Xavier Boffa transferred the hefty sum to Alexander Rashidi Lawyers, acting for UK anti-trans rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen and Melbourne woman Angela Jones, on behalf of Mr Pesutto.
Private correspondence obtained by News Corp reveals Mr Boffa transferred the payment on Mr Pesutto’s behalf to pay legal fees charged by Alexander Rashidi Lawyers for solicitor Katherine Deves and barrister Bridie Nolan.
Mr Boffa, an informal adviser to Mr Pesutto who heads legal think tank the Samuel Griffith Society, made the payment in three separate instalments – $20,000, $20,000 and $10,000 – just prior to Mr Pesutto signing deeds with activists Ms Jones and Ms Keen in May, according to the Australian.
Mr Pesutto previously claimed he made a “small” contribution to costs to settle the matter, but News Corp can reveal his contribution covered the entire $50,000 bill invoiced to the clients.
It comes ahead of a Federal Court verdict this week into Mr Pesutto’s high-stakes defamation trial with exiled Liberal MP Moira Deeming over allegations that he painted her as a Nazi sympathiser, after white supremacists gatecrashed a women’s rights rally she organised.
The Herald Sun understands Ms Jones and Ms Keen, have since fallen out with their solicitor, former Liberal Party candidate, Ms Deves.
The two women have approached the NSW Office of the Legal Services Commissioner to review the payments, claiming they were not made aware of the full details of the $50,000.
However, Ms Deves is understood to have believed the two women were advised of the details and that the law firm’s costs agreement explained the payments.
Mr Pesutto confirmed in May that the matters had been settled.
An opposition spokesperson on Tuesday said: “Any claims of professional misconduct are between Ms Jones, Ms Keen and their lawyers.”
“This matter is concluded, and all appropriate disclosures have been made,” he said.
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