Reuters does not usually identify victims of sex crimes but Higgins went public with the accusation. Prosecutors in December dropped charges against Lehrmann over fears the trial was harming Higgins' mental health. Lehrmann, who worked in the same office as Higgins, pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence. The ACT government in December set up the inquiry to check the conduct of criminal justice agencies after allegations of political interference in the trial. Chief Minister Andrew Barr said his government would check if it was against the law that two journalists had received the inquiry report before it was made public.

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Persons: Brittany Higgins, Linda Reynolds, Bruce Lehrmann, Higgins, Shane Drumgold, Walter Sofronoff, Drumgold, Andrew Barr, Barr, Renju Jose, Robert Birsel Organizations: SYDNEY, House, Reuters, Prosecutors, Australian Capital Territory, ACT, Public, Thomson Locations: Australian, House, Queensland, Sydney