Liberal Party cocaine dealer John Macgowan bragged on social media about impersonating an ASIO agent in a post he published on the 13th of March 2024, which is a federal crime, and spreading lies to a journalist.

Then on the 5th of June 2024 both John Macgowan’s and Bruce Lehrmann’s houses were raided by the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for allegedly stealing, and trying to profit from, government submarine secrets.

This is one of those dumb and dumber stories where the stupidity of John Macgowan and Bruce Lehrmann would be impossible to believe if it wasn’t true.

But make no mistake this is potentially a huge matter, that could take down a lot of people for numerous crimes, with the Federal Police, NSW Police and the NACC now in possession of John Macgowan’s 3 mobile phones and laptop, which he confirmed to the media.

We should also assume the police and the NACC also have Bruce Lehrmann’s mobile phones and laptop although his lawyer, who gave a public statement on the matter, didn’t tell the media that.

The sort of crimes the phones and laptops could reveal includes, but is not limited to, cocaine supply and illegally leaking court documents to journalists such as News Corp and Channel Seven’s Spotlight program. Seven owners Kerry Stokes and Ryan Stokes might not have escaped the Lions dens yet like they probably thought they had.

Bruce Lehrmann’s phones and laptop might even prove perjury by him given his evidence at his defamation case and might also show Seven lied to the court about receiving documents and/or video from Lehrmann.

The old media have so far missed some key points with their reporting which I regard as being relevant.

Firstly, Bruce Lehrmann gave evidence in his defamation case which pointed to John Macgowan supplying him cocaine. That means there could be some very worried Liberal Party people given the police have taken John Macgowan’s 3 mobile phones and his laptop.

Secondly, John Macgowan in a previous life also worked for government defence MP’s which adds to the allegation of leaked submarine documents.

Thirdly, John Macgowan gave evidence at the NSW ICAC in 2014 and was accused of ratting to the ICAC to “regain credibility so he could run for an upper house seat”.

Fourthly, John Macgowan got into a fight on social media (Twitter) with Serkan Ozturk, publisher of True News Weekly, a few months ago (March 2024) and then with Shane Dowling (me). John Macgowan boasted about impersonating an ASIO agent, which is a crime as per the screenshot below, to lie and deceive journalist Serkan Ozturk.

But let’s have a look at the background to the raids first:

The first report of the raids was Thursday (8/8/24) when a story was published at 8pm by Samantha Maiden on the news.com.au website but the story only reported the raid on John Macgowan’s home, which based on the story is owned by his girlfriend.

John Macgowan has told Samantha Maiden “In an exclusive interview with news.com.au, Mr Macgowan has described the allegations as an “insane conspiracy” that he said to a journalist in a conversation as “a joke” that he now understands was recorded.”

“Mr Macgowan says he told the NACC in an interview that he voluntarily agreed that neither he nor Mr Lehrmann were or ever possessed any such documents. He is calling on the NACC to return his phones.”

“Basically, the allegation is. (Bruce Lehrmann) was in the office stealing top-secret submarine documents and gave them to me to sell. It’s not true. And I know it’s not true. It’s a made-up story,” he said.

“I volunteered to do an interview. There’s zero truth to it. It was a made up story promoted by the conspiracy theorists on Twitter.”

Mr Macgowan said sniffer dogs were present, and the NACC went through his girlfriend’s underwear drawer.

“They said ‘no, no, this is not the cocaine dogs. It’s the paper dogs’. It’s called Operation Ivanhoe. I read it in their notebooks when they were walking around,” he said.

The investigation also involved seizing communications between Macgowan and news.com.au related to a leaked report about the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins. (Click here to read more)

Below is a picture of John Macgowan looking very much like a drug dealer. It is in the News Corp article I quoted from above, so I wonder if Macgowan gave it to them to try and drum up some new clients.

It’s important to note John Macgowan’s contradictions in his statements.

Macgowan says “the allegations as an “insane conspiracy” that he said to a journalist in a conversation as “a joke” that he now understands was recorded.” but later he says, “It was a made up story promoted by the conspiracy theorists on Twitter.”.

As you will see below it seems it was John Macgowan who was promoting the “conspiracy” theory on Twitter that also likely led to the raids.

Then at midday on Friday (9/8/24) the SMH reported that Bruce Lehrmann’s house had also been raided:

The National Anti-Corruption Commission raided homes connected to former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann and his former media adviser, John Macgowan, in June to investigate allegations the pair shared top-secret submarine contracts.

Search warrants seen by this masthead show officers were authorised under the Crimes Act to search for “documents concerning any submarine deal, program or procurement”, anything relating to the Australian Defence Force, the Department of Defence or the Royal Australian Navy and defence contractors.

Macgowan’s search warrant authorised officers to obtain any documents concerning the “Future Submarine Program (FSP), Attack-class submarines, contracts, plans, diagrams, reports”.

It said officers were authorised to search for documents where there were “reasonable grounds for suspecting that they will afford evidence” relating to the potential offences that Lehrmann “engaged in conduct as a Commonwealth public official and did so with the intention of dishonestly obtaining a benefit for himself or another person John Alex Macgowan”; and that Macgowan “aided, abetted, counselled or procured the commission of an offence by Bruce Emery Lehrmann”. They relate to periods between March and April 2019 in Canberra and May 2019 and June 2020 in Sydney.

The commission confirmed it executed two search warrants with assistance from the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police on June 5 “in relation to an ongoing investigation”.

“As the matter is ongoing, the commission will not be making further comment, as to do so may compromise operational activities or unfairly impact reputations,” it said in a statement on Friday.

A legal representative for Lehrmann, Zali Burrows, confirmed her client’s home had been raided by the commission on June 5.

“The NACC’s conspiracy theory about secret French submarines and spy games is just another wild character assassination attempt against Bruce,” she said.

“They found nothing in the raid and it ended up simply being just a cosy night in with the officers and Bruce. The NACC bought a round of pizzas as they sat by the fireplace watching the State of Origin.” (Click here to read more)

Who is John Macgowan?

John Macgowan was named by Bruce Lehrmann as his media advisor during the course of his 2023 defamation case against Channel Ten and Lisa Wilkinson. And also News Corp and the ABC before Lehrmann settled with them. (Click here to read more)

John Macgowan was also exposed during the defamation trial by Bruce Lehrmann’s text messages as someone Lehrmann bought cocaine from. (Click here to read more)

Once John Macgowan was named at the defamation trial it became obvious he was a key player behind the scenes during Bruce Lehrmann’s 2022 rape trial. Macgowan shows up in the background in a lot of pictures of Bruce Lehrmann outside the ACT court during the rape trial.

His political background

John Macgowan’s LinkedIn account shows his work history as: (Click here to see on LinkedIn)

Consultant – Self-employed Mar 2019 – Present · 5 yrs 6 m Sydney

Senior AdviserSenior Adviser – NSW Minister for Planning, Housing & Special Minister of State the Hon. Anthony Roberts MP Feb 2017 – Mar 2019 · 2 yrs 2 mos Sydney, Australia

Consultant – Crosby Textor Aug 2015 – Feb 2017 · 1 yr 7 mos Sydney

Senior Adviser – Office of the Leader of Government, NSW Legislative Council May 2014 – Apr 2015 · 1 yr

Senior Adviser – NSW Minister for Police the Hon Michael Gallacher Mar 2011 – May 2014 · 3 yrs 3 mos Sydney, Australia

Media/Policy Adviser – Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Legislative Council NSW Jul 2008 – Mar 2011 · 2 yrs 9 mos

Electorate Officer – Office of Craig Baumann MP Mar 2007 – Jul 2008 · 1 yr 5 mos

Adviser – Office of the Hon Robyn Parker MLC Jun 2006 – Mar 2007 · 10 mos

Media Adviser – Office of the Hon. Peter Lindsay MP Jan 2005 – Jan 2006 · 1 yr 1 mo Townsville, Australia

Adviser – Office of Senator the Hon. Marise Payne 2004 – 2004 · Less than a year

John Macgowan’s work history does not mean much but someone was helpful enough to post on Twitter as per below:

John “The Rat” Macgowan gives evidence at the NSW ICAC in 2014

John Macgowan gave evidence in 2014 to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption at an inquiry into secret donations to the Liberal Party and another Liberal Party staffer gave evidence that Macgowan “ratted” them out.

The SBS reported in September 2014: Adviser ratted to regain credibility: ICAC

An adviser close to sidelined NSW police minister Mike Gallacher “ratted” to the corruption watchdog to regain credibility so he could run for an upper house seat, an inquiry has heard.

Liberal party aide John Macgowan, who worked closely with Mr Gallacher since at least 2008, told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) last Wednesday that MP Garry Edwards admitted to him that he received an envelope containing cash from Newcastle property developer Jeff McCloy.

Mr Macgowan’s evidence was strongly disputed by Mr Edwards’ senior electorate officer, Nicholas Jones, during a brief stint in the witness box on Monday.

“It was all in relation to Mr Macgowan’s bid to be preselected as a candidate for the (NSW) upper house, representing the Liberal party,” he said.

“I believe that his association and employment with former police minister Mike Gallacher would obviously work very strongly against him. I believe he needs an avenue to clear his name.”

Commissioner Megan Latham asked Mr Jones how Mr Macgowan would benefit from informing the ICAC.

“So he becomes a rat does he? He rats out people in the Liberal party by coming down here and making a statement and that makes him a more attractive candidate for the upper house?” she asked.

Mr Jones replied: “Because, I believe, he needed to rebuild his credibility.” (Click here to read more)

John Macgowan attacks Serkan Ozturk on social media (Twitter)

Impersonating a government employee, such as a police officer or an ASIO agent, is a criminal offence and John Macgowan admits to that crime in the below tweet. (Click here to see it on Twitter although John might delete it very soon)

John Macgowan posted the below message on Twitter on the 14th of March 2024:

Does John Macgowan think setting up fake social media accounts to falsely tell journalist Serkan Ozturk that he is an ASIO agent is some sort of legal technicality that means he can’t be charged with impersonating a government official? He needs to get a lawyer fast. And the fool brags about his crime on social media.

Impersonating a Commonwealth public official is an offence, contrary to section 148.1(2) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

The above tweet would have been enough to gain the attention of authorities as John Macgowan is admitting to committing a crime, impersonating an ASIO agent, and using that crime to spread false information on the internet to a journalist.

And what else did John Macgowan say to Serkan Ozturk via his fake social media accounts? I bet the police and the NACC know.

Was John Macgowan also impersonating an ASIO agent and spreading false information to conceal crimes or for the furtherance of a crime?

John Macgowan – Shane Dowling (me) on social media (Twitter)

I posted the below message on Twitter on the 14th of March 2024:

John Macgowan responded:

Macgowan is a tryhard wannabe gangster who shoots off his mouth on social media thinking he’s a big-time wheeler and dealer when the reality is he’s delusion nutter who goes on drug fuelled benders causing grief for himself and everyone around him. And given Bruce Lehrmann is almost identical it explains why they are, or were, friends.

John Macgowan claims he was raided because of a joke he told a journalist and if you believe that then the joke is on you.

I suspect Macgowan was raided because he was shooting off his mouth on social media in March 2024 to Serkan Ozturk, and to a lesser degree myself, impersonating an ASIO agent.

Since then, the NACC and police would have monitored his social media accounts and possibly phones until they decided they had enough evidence to raid Macgowan and Bruce Lehrmann on the 6th of June 2024.

John Macgowan going public with the NACC raids I find odd because I understand if the NSW ICAC raids someone house, they can’t go to the media and I thought the NACC would be the same.

But maybe John Macgowan felt he had to warn people whose crimes might be on his computer or phone messages that they might be in trouble.

But then again, maybe John “The Rat” Macgowan has rolled, again, and is working with the police and the NACC and has gone public trying to rattle a few people.

The NACC say the investigation is ongoing and so far haven’t given John Macgowan back his 3 phones and laptop so there might be charges in the future.

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