Former Liberal party staffer Bruce Lehrmann has lodged a formal complaint against the ACT's top prosecutor, Shane Drumgold, claiming the Director of Public Prosecutions was "driven by malice" in charging him over the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins at Parliament House.
The complaint alleging professional misconduct was lodged with the ACT Bar Association in December after Mr Lehrmann's trial ended because of a juror's misconduct.
A planned retrial was later abandoned because of concerns about Ms Higgins's health, meaning there have been no findings against him.
In his letter, Mr Lehrmann said he was innocent of the charge of rape.
"I have always, strongly maintained my innocence," he said.
He claimed Mr Drumgold had personally targeted him, at the expense of a fair trial.
"I contend that his conduct was driven by malice towards me personally," Mr Lehrmann said.
"I also contend that his conduct was political."
In the complaint, Mr Lehrmann outlined seven specific complaints about Mr Drumgold's conduct, accusing him of pursuing the matter through the media despite the end of the prosecution.
"His public behaviour continues to smear my name and the presumption of innocence that is a cornerstone of our justice system and that demands him to uphold," Mr Lehrmann said.
"More importantly to me, he impugns the conduct of my legal team, who have been family to me and without them, I would not be here today."
The complaint takes particular aim at the decision to prosecute, saying it was malicious and/or subject to political interference, and alleges Mr Drumgold failed to warn Ms Higgins not to make public comments or to warn others that public comment could undermine a fair trial.
It is understood Mr Lehrmann is yet to receive a response from the Bar Association.
But now his lawyers say he plans to use some of the complaint in a submission to a board of inquiry into the circumstances around his trial.
The inquiry will look into the interactions between police and prosecutors, after the public release of a letter to police from Mr Drumgold, alleging he had been pressured not to pursue the charge against Mr Lehrmann.
On Tuesday, the ACT government announced former Queensland judge and solicitor-general Walter Sofronoff would head the inquiry, with terms of reference looking at whether police, prosecutors and the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner met their obligations and if not, why not.
The inquiry will also look into who may have been provided with information by police, and how Mr Drumgold's letter was released under freedom of information laws.
Mr Drumgold has yet to respond to any of the accusations levelled at him by Mr Lehrmann.
