Channel Seven’s chief executive has sent an email to staff, criticizing former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach’s claims that the network covered Bruce Lehrmann’s drug and prostitute costs.
The internal email, obtained exclusively by WhatsNew2Day Australia, from James Warburton following Auerbach’s testimony in the Federal Court on Thursday afternoon.
Auerbach had told the court that his bosses at Spotlight had asked him to “babysit” Lehrmann in late 2022, in an attempt to entice the former Liberal staffer to sign an exclusive interview deal with the show.
He claimed the night led to debauchery involving cocaine and sex workers at the Meriton Hotel, all on Channel Seven’s dime.
Auerbach further claimed he was offered a promotion and pay rise after using a Channel Seven credit card to purchase $10,000 worth of Thai massages for himself and Bruce Lehrmann.
The network denied the claims in a formal statement to the media Thursday afternoon, but also appears to have gone into crisis mode with an email to assure staff members that Auerbach’s claims were false.
Warburton wrote: “Hello team, Seven is shocked by the allegations brought to court in recent days.”
‘We do not condone the behavior described in these accusations. They do not reflect the culture of the Seven.
“For the record, Seven did not offer a promotion or pay rise to Taylor Auerbach in November 2022, nor did it do so at any time thereafter.”
“Seven did not reimburse Bruce Lehrmann for expenses that were allegedly used to pay for illegal drugs or prostitutes, and never has.”
Warburton went on to explain that the network had complied with all obligations to submit relevant documentation to the court and, contrary to Mr Auerbach’s evidence, never asked anyone to delete or destroy documents.
“As we said earlier this week, Seven did not approve or authorize the alleged payments to Mr Lehrmann in recently made public affidavits,” the letter said.
“The person involved admitted misuse of a Seven corporate card and all unauthorized expenses were immediately refunded.”
‘Seven has acted appropriately at all times.’
In court Thursday, Auerbach said he had texted his former boss Steve Jackson while sitting over a plate of cocaine with Lehrmann.
“I was worried this would happen again,” he said.
“(Mr. Lehrmann) was on the warpath again and it was no anomaly and… the words I used were, ‘this is screwed.'”
He also told the court that the morning after the Thai massages was “the worst day of my life.”
Auerbach had submitted his resignation to Mr. Jackson and Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn.
In that letter, Auerbach apologized for his conduct and for spending “thousands” of corporate dollars.
“While drunk, I put thousands of dollars on a corporate credit card for something that had nothing to do with work,” he had written.
Under cross-examination by Mr Lehrmann’s lawyer, Matthew Richardson SC, Mr Auerbach said he had then been awarded a pay rise and promotion.
The Federal Court will resume on Friday at 10.45am.
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