Actor Alec Baldwin has filed a civil lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. fatal shooting Director of photography on the set of the western movie ‘Rust’.
The lawsuit was filed in state District Court in Santa Fe in July. The indictment was dismissed. and a count of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Prosecutors last month The appeal was withdrawn. During the judge’s ruling.
Baldwin also claimed defamation in the suit, saying prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence while investigating the case.
Defendants named in the lawsuit include Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, and investigators with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
“Defendants have sought in every way to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of evidence or law,” the lawsuit states.
Morrissey and Carmack-Altwies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“Criminal prosecutions should be about the pursuit of truth and justice, not the pursuit of personal or political gain or the harassment of innocent people,” Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, said in a statement to CBS News. “Kari Morrissey and the other defendants have repeatedly violated basic principles and trampled on Alec Baldwin’s rights. We are taking this action to hold the defendants accountable for their misconduct and to prevent them from doing this to others. I’m drunk.”
Hutchins died in October 2021 shortly after sustaining injuries while rehearsing for the movie “Rust” at a ranch on a movie set outside Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Baldwin, a star and co-producer, pointed a handgun at Hutchins when he was discharged from the hospital, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer but did not pull the trigger and the revolver discharged.
