Hastie Under Fire in Roberts-Smith Trial

A high-stakes war crimes trial looms over Ben Roberts-Smith, sparking fierce debate and raising alarms about intimidation tactics targeting Liberal MP Andrew Hastie. Critics like Andrew Bolt call the mounting pressure on Hastie — who testified in a prior defamation case — a “sinister” campaign designed to silence witnesses. Amid online abuse labeling Hastie a “rat,” even Roberts-Smith’s mother has warned MPs against trusting him, while the media outlet behind the latest damaging article is linked to a billionaire backing Roberts-Smith. Though Hastie insists Roberts-Smith is innocent until proven guilty — and that no one is above the law — the legal landscape remains murky: Roberts-Smith denies all charges, and while he lost a defamation case, criminal trials demand higher proof. The appeal court’s judgment barely mentioned Hastie — even praising his honesty — yet the public narrative is turning toxic. The real concern? A chilling effect on future soldiers willing to speak truth to power. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/cf05e8321656fd8e