It gets worse. Mr Mallard said he would defend any claim "vigorously". He threatened the plaintiff. He said that, should the plaintiff pursue litigation, "the question of his reputation and his conduct will be very much the centrepiece of any public proceeding". Mr Mallard said he would prove the man was a rapist, knowing it to be untrue, if the plaintiff sued to protect his reputation. This is a gross and disgraceful abuse of power. He refused to apologise to the man he called a rapist, even though he knew it was wrong. He refused to compensate, even though he knew it was wrong. He said, if the man sought to protect his reputation, he would prove he was a rapist. He threatened to put the man on trial. This is a man who should resign—