by Alec Baldwin scored another win in the rust case when Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced on Tuesday that she was stepping down. The move comes a month after the actor’s legal team filed a motion asking the judge to dismiss her, claiming her status as a Republican legislator in the New Mexico House of Representatives was “unconstitutional.” Baldwin, who is charged with two counts of manslaughter in the death of the film’s cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, has pleaded not guilty.
“After careful consideration, I made the difficult decision to resign as a special prosecutor in the Federal Chancellery rust Case. My priority in this case — and in every case I have pursued in my 25-year career — was justice for the victim,” the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney’s office told Yahoo Entertainment. “However, it has become clear that the best way to ensure justice is done in this case is to step down so prosecutors can focus on the evidence and facts that clearly show a total disregard for basic safety protocols leading to the death.” led by Halyna Hutchins. I will not allow questions about my work as a legislator and prosecutor to obscure the real issue.”
The documents have been submitted to the court and the public prosecutor’s office is not commenting further at this time. Yahoo contacted Baldwin’s attorney, but did not receive an immediate response.
Hutchins was killed when Baldwin fired a gun during rehearsals. He repeatedly said he didn’t pull the trigger. That’s going to be a major bone of contention in the trial…assuming the case makes it there. The defense and prosecutors clashed publicly last week after a hearing on Thursday. One of Baldwin’s attorneys claimed in court that the firearm in question was “destroyed by the state.”
Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the New Mexico First District Attorney, later refuted this to the media, saying the gun “is in evidence and is available for the defense to review.”
“The defense’s unexpected statement in today’s status hearing that the weapon was destroyed by the state may be a reference to a statement in the FBI’s July 2022 firearms test report that damage was caused to internal components of the gun during the FBI’s functional testing.” However, the gun still exists and can be used as evidence,” added Brewer.
Last month, prosecutors downgraded one of the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, which involved a firearm enhancement. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years behind bars. It was the most serious outcome he faced.
Baldwin’s attorneys argued that prosecutors made an “unconstitutional and legal error” in filing the charges 30 rocks Stern “under a law that didn’t exist as of the state of the accident.” The law in question went into effect in March 2022, nearly six months after Hutchins was killed. The same charges were also dropped against rust Armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Legal experts broadly condemned the first move by prosecutors.
“In order to avoid further contentious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the Special Attorney removed the firearms amplification from the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins rust Movie set,” Brewer explained the decision.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed are facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, a fourth-degree felony punishable by 18 months in prison.
rust will resume production this spring — but not in New Mexico. Rust Movie Productions announced that the film will be shot at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana. Baldwin will return alongside director Joel Souza, who was injured in the 2021 incident, and a mix of old and new crew.
