A close friend of Alan Jones, a prominent Australian broadcaster, has admitted in court that he sent a text message to Jones stating, “if you need me to refute any lies, I of course will.” The witness, who has denied being present at a lunch in Mosman in 2008 where Jones allegedly assaulted a man, was questioned by prosecutor Georgina Wright during cross-examination. Wright asked the witness if he had told Jones he would help refute any lies, to which he replied, “Yes.” The witness described his relationship with Jones as one of deep loyalty, calling them “very good friends” with an “unbreakable bond.” The witness stated he could not recall being at the Mosman restaurant during the lunch in question and claimed he had never seen Jones engage in any inappropriate or sexual behavior. Alan Jones, who is 85 years old, faces 20 charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching involving six men. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutor Wright questioned the witness about his apparent prioritization of loyalty to Jones over answering the court’s questions truthfully, but the witness maintained he had answered all questions honestly. Earlier in the trial, another guest at the lunch alleged that a victim, referred to as complainant C, appeared “distraught” while sitting next to Jones, who had his hand under the table. Complainant C testified that Jones instructed him to sit beside him and kept his left hand on his leg or over his pants throughout the meal. The witness, when asked about the text messages he sent to Jones after journalist Kate McClymont’s article about the allegations was published, said the messages were intended to show support for Jones and criticize those who made the allegations. The witness described McClymont using strong language, calling her a “cunt,” a “bitch,” and “evil,” and referred to the allegations against Jones as a “witch hunt.” He also expressed strong admiration for Jones, calling him “the greatest broadcaster there’s ever been” and stating that working with him was “the best years of his life.” Despite the allegations, the witness remained steadfast in his support for Jones, emphasizing the deep bond they shared.