Lidia Thorpe, David Van: Why Peter Dutton dumped Liberal senator as second claim emerges

A second senator has claimed David Van groped her by 'squeezing her bottom twice' - after Lidia Thorpe alleged he sexually harassed and assaulted her in parliament. Earlier on Thursday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton expelled Senator Van from the Liberal party room, revealing in a short press conference that further allegations had come to light in the aftermath of Senator Thorpe's revelation. Former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker released a statement on Thursday night alleging the Victorian senator 'inappropriately touched' her 'at an informal social gathering in a parliamentary office' in November, 2020 Peter Dutton expelled Senator David Van from the Liberal party room after a second woman came forward with allegations against him Ms Stoker has since come forward, revealing she held a meeting with Mr Van the day after the 2020 incident, at which point he allegedly 'apologised and said it would never happen again'. Mr Van vehemently denies the allegations against him, which were first spoken in Parliament by Ms Thorpe on Wednesday, saying they are all untrue Lidia Thorpe has doubled down on her allegations she was sexually assaulted under parliamentary privilege, claiming she was 'followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched' - but insisted she would not make a complaint with police The allegations prompted Liberal leader Peter Dutton to suspend David Van from the party room while the Parliament Workplace Support Service conducts an investigation Ms Thorpe doubled down on claims she was subjected to inappropriate behaviour in Parliament House on Thursday, saying she was 'followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched' by an unnamed man. The Independent senator tearfully said she never spoke publicly about her alleged experience because it was at the same time that Brittany Higgins had come forward She told the Senate under parliamentary privilege she did not want to take away from Ms Higgins' experience, and placed her faith in the Liberal party that her complaint was being taken seriously 'At times I've been in front of her, at times I have been behind her, but at no time did I harass her.