Actor Alec Baldwin has filed a lawsuit against New Mexico prosecutors and sheriff's office officials, accusing them of engaging in a 'malicious' prosecution related to the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust. The lawsuit alleges that the prosecutors deliberately withheld evidence from Baldwin during his trial, leading to the dismissal of the case in July.
According to Baldwin's attorneys, the New Mexico officials pursued the actor for political and personal reasons, with the goal of bringing him to trial. The lawsuit seeks financial damages through a jury trial and points to actions taken by the prosecutors, such as making comments about the case benefiting their political career and presenting false testimony to secure an indictment.
The prosecutors anticipated the lawsuit, with one of them stating that they look forward to their day in court. The sheriff's office and the special prosecutor have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
The incident in question occurred when Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, accidentally fired a live round from a prop gun, killing Hutchins. The movie's weapons handler, Hannah Gutierrez, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in jail for loading the live round into the gun.
The judge in the case dismissed the charges against Baldwin, citing the deliberate withholding of evidence by the prosecutors. Now, Baldwin must prove that the officials are not protected by state law providing immunity to those sued for conduct within the scope of their duties.
Overall, the lawsuit filed by Alec Baldwin against the New Mexico officials raises questions about the handling of the case and the motives behind the prosecution, setting the stage for a potentially contentious legal battle in the future.