Shane Drumgold resigns as ACT top prosecutor after damning inquiry

Bruce Lehrmann has said he will hold the Director of Public Prosecutions “to account”, after a damning report spelled the end of the prosecutor’s long career.

Bruce Lehrmann has said the resignation of Shane Drumgold as the ACT’s chief prosecutor “shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone” after a damning report supposedly found he had lied to the Supreme Court and engaged in “serious misconduct”.

The Sofronoff inquiry – which investigated the handling of the rape trial against the former Liberal staffer – found the Director of Public Prosecutions had improperly questioned senator Linda Reynolds during the trial, amongst other wrongdoings.

The inquiry wrapped up earlier this year, after a sensational relationship breakdown between Mr Drumgold and police.

In a letter, Mr Drumgold who alleged there had been political interference in the investigation, said police had pressured him not to pursue the rape charge.

Mr Drumgold sensationally backflipped on his allegation of political influence during the inquiry, conceding his suspicions had been wrong.

Bruce Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The findings of the inquiry were handed to the ACT government on Monday, and were not expected to be formally released until the end of the month, but a copy of the 600-page report was leaked to The Australian newspaper.

Mr Drumgold has been on leave since May but his resignation was confirmed on Sunday.

Mr Lehrmann issued a statement, saying the ACT Government needs to show “leadership” and hold the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to account.

“Given the alarming reading courageously reported by the media earlier in the week, this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, in fact it is the least that could happen,” Mr Lehrmann said on Sunday.

“The response from the former Director is not acceptable, insufficient and not worth the paper it is written on.

“The ACT Government now needs to show leadership and hold the ODPP to account. If they don’t I will.”

In a statement on Sunday, ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said he had a conversation with Mr Drumgold after the media reports surfaced.

“I can confirm that on Friday, Mr Drumgold sent a letter advising me that he would be vacating his position as ACT Director of Public Prosecutions,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“I can also confirm Mr Drumgold has been provided a full copy of the Board of Inquiry Report.

“The ACT Government will make a detailed statement in response to the Sofronoff Report early in the coming week.”

Shane Drumgold SC has resigned after a damning report into his handling of Bruce Lehrmann’s trial. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

According to the newspaper’s reports, the full extent of the findings will spell out Mr Drumgold’s conduct before, during, and after the trial, including public comments he made in support of Ms Higgins’ last year.

The article said Walter Sofronoff KC found Mr Drumgold to have lied to the Supreme Court over a note made about a meeting with Lisa Wilkinson before she made a speech at the Logies in June 2022 – which resulted in the trial being postponed.

The report also found evidence of unethical conduct by Mr Drumgold, including his use of a note concerning a discussion he had with Wilkinson days before her speech.

Mr Sofronoff also found Mr Drumgold has improperly questioned Senator Reynolds on the stand.

The article asserts the findings against Mr Drumgold were so serious that Mr Sofronoff considered whether he should invite Mr Drumgold to make a submission as to whether he was the right person to hold that position.

The final findings were presented to The Australian and ABC News under strict embargo before they were given to Mr Drumgold, ACT Police or the ACT government, before the initial reports emerged.

The ACT government late last week rebuked Mr Sofronoff for the board of inquiry’s decision to leak the report, with the police chief exacerbated at the blindside.

Mr Drumgold had been on leave since May after appearing before the Sofronoff Inquiry.

Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting his former colleague Brittany Higgins in the Parliament House office of their then-boss Senator Reynolds, in March 2019.

The trial was aborted in October due to juror misconduct, and Mr Drumgold ruled out a retrial in December, citing concerns over Ms Higgins’ mental health.

Mr Lehrmann maintains his innocence.

He has instructed lawyers to look at Mr Sofronoff’s findings, to consider whether he will take legal action against Mr Drumgold or the ACT government.