Actor Alec Baldwin has filed a lawsuit against the prosecutors involved in his criminal case following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
Baldwin, who was holding the gun that discharged in the tragic incident, is seeking legal action against special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, accusing them of malicious prosecution and civil rights violations.
In the lawsuit, Baldwin claims that the prosecutors were driven by a “desire to convict him for all the wrong reasons.”
His legal team argues that they intentionally withheld key evidence that could have cleared his name and unfairly targeted him to push for a trial.
Baldwin’s lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, emphasized that criminal prosecutions should focus on truth and justice, not personal or political agendas.
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The legal battle stems from a tragic accident in October 2021, when Baldwin discharged a revolver on the Rust set, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin, who served as both the film’s lead actor and a producer, was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter. However, in July 2023, a judge dismissed the manslaughter charge due to misconduct by police and prosecutors, specifically for withholding ammunition evidence from the defense.
Baldwin’s lawsuit comes less than a month after Morrissey withdrew an appeal over the dismissed manslaughter charge. In response, Morrissey said she looked forward to her day in court.
BBC News has reached out to Carmack-Altwies for comment, but has not yet received a reply.
The lawsuit is a significant development in a case that has captured widespread media attention, with Baldwin and his legal team pushing back against what they describe as an unjust prosecution.