Emma Husar launches legal action against Buzzfeed

Emma Husar will launch legal action against BuzzFeed over articles that detailed bullying and sexual harassment claims.

Labor MP Emma Husar will take legal action against Buzzfeed. Picture: AAP

Emma Husar will launch legal action against BuzzFeed over ­articles that detailed a litany of bullying and sexual harassment allegations against the Labor MP.

Ms Husar, who holds the marginal western Sydney seat of Lindsay, told federal parliament she was “slut-shamed” by the BuzzFeed articles that ­reported an allegation that she made lewd gestures with her legs near ALP frontbencher Jason Clare.

The articles, published in ­August, also detailed a series of bullying allegations from her former office staff members.

Ms Husar told the House of Representatives the articles were a “shameless misrepresentation” and claimed she was not contacted by BuzzFeed journalist Alice Workman before publication. “I’ve had to bite my tongue and not defend myself publicly while being misrepresented,” she told parliament.

“At 9.33am on August 2, Ms Alice Workman of BuzzFeed published the most damaging ­article. Then, she claimed she had requested my comment. She had not. This is false.

“At 9.35am, she further tweeted that I had bragged about who I was having sex with, that I had sexually harassed an employee, and intentionally exposed myself like Sharon Stone’s character in Basic Instinct in front of a colleague and his infant son.”

Ms Husar told the house she was “not a bully” and that she would “fight for her integrity” in the courts. “I am not Sharon Stone. I am not a thief. And I did not deliberately misuse my work expenses,” she said.

A BuzzFeed spokeswoman said the news website it was considering its position after Ms Husar’s statement and would “respond in due course”.

The MP was forced to step aside as Labor’s candidate in the marginal NSW seat after the ­allegations. An independent ­review of her conduct later found she had no reason to resign from her position, and she has denied the allegations.

Ms Husar has since said she is still the endorsed candidate in Lindsay and that she wants to run again.

But the NSW Labor Party has said it will hold an open preselection ballot and it is speculated Ms Husar will be dumped for former NSW minister Diane Beamer.

The Australian reported earlier this week that Ms Husar was considering court action to keep her preselection, and she has not ruled out moving to the crossbench and running as an independent.

BuzzFeed and Workman were contacted for comment.