Peta Credlin texted warning about Moira Deeming expulsion to Victorian Liberal leader’s staffer, court hears

Defamation trial told of message from Sky News host to John Pesutto's chief of staff while helping to set up office

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Sky News host Peta Credlin warned against expelling Moira Deeming from the Victorian Liberal party room in a text message to John Pesutto's chief of staff, whose office she was then helping to set up, a court has heard.

Deeming, now an independent MP after her expulsion, is suing the Victorian opposition leader for allegedly falsely portraying her as a Nazi sympathiser after she spoke at the Let Women Speak rally held on 18 March 2023, which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. Pesutto has rejected the allegation.