Parliament's Speaker Trevor Mallard is being taken to court for claiming a rapist worked on the parliamentary precinct last year.
NZME reports that he is being sued for defamation over those comments - that the man says they were defamatory and untrue.
Mallard made the comments in the wake of the major bullying and harassment inquiry at Parliament last year.
A man was stood down at the time and the Speaker said "a threat to the safety of women" had been removed from the building.
Newshub understands defamation papers have been served, but everyone involved is remaining tight-lipped, including Mallard, his lawyer and the man's lawyer.
All are refusing to comment or confirm anything.
