This is the best summary I could come up with:

A former Seven Network producer has claimed the broadcaster paid for "illicit drugs and prostitutes" as part of its efforts to secure an exclusive sit-down interview with Bruce Lehrmann.

The evidence has come to light in an affidavit from Taylor Auerbach, who was a producer on the Spotlight program, which aired two interviews with Mr Lehrmann last year.

The affidavit has now been released by the Federal Court, after it was tendered during Network Ten's application to reopen its case in Mr Lehrmann's defamation claim.

The former Liberal staffer is suing Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over the interview in which Brittany Higgins alleged she had been raped at Parliament House, even though she did not name him.

Mr Lehrmann later faced a criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court, which was abandoned after juror misconduct, leaving no findings against him and clearing the way for his defamation action.

Network Ten succeeded in a last-minute application to reopen its case yesterday, to present the fresh evidence to the court, despite opposition from Mr Lehrmann's lawyers.

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