Likud accuses AG of ‘witch hunt’ against government over sexual assault probe into Milwidsky

Likud says Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is leading an “unbridled witch hunt” against the government, after police opened a criminal investigation into Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky on suspicion of sexual offenses.

“The attorney general, who is in a clear conflict of interest, is acting like a saboteur, trying to prevent her dismissal,” the party says in a statement, adding that “the decision to open an investigation into MK Milwidsky, one day after it was announced he would serve as Finance Committee chair, is yet another glaring example.”

Milwidsky was set to be appointed this week to lead the influential Finance Committee following the departure of United Torah Judaism’s Moshe Gafni, whose party quit the coalition in protest over the failure to pass a military draft exemption law for Haredim.

The Likud MK has faced multiple accusations in the past of sexual assault, but has not to date faced any charges.

The party alleges, without evidence, that the investigation into Milwidsky is retaliation for its attempts to remove the attorney general.

“Since the government announced its intention to dismiss her, the attorney general has been obstructing the government’s work in every way and initiating reckless investigations against coalition members, one after another,” the statement says.

A ministerial committee recommended last week that the cabinet fire Baharav-Miara due to “substantive and ongoing differences of opinion between the government and the attorney general, preventing effective cooperation,” with the cabinet set to vote to fire the attorney general on August 4.