Alec Baldwin has filed a lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations against those involved in pursuing criminal charges against him over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the film set of Rust.
The lawsuit alleges that prosecutors intentionally concealed evidence that would absolve Baldwin from blame and “sought at every turn to scapegoat” him to “maliciously bring about or advance” the US actor’s trial and conviction.
It claims the defendants, which includes special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, were “blinded by their desire to convict Baldwin for all the wrong reasons”.
“We look forward to our day in court.”
The lawsuit was filed less than a month after Ms Morrissey withdrew an appeal over the court’s decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin, following the 2021 fatal shooting of Ms Hutchins on the Santa Fe film set.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of the film, was pointing a gun when the revolver went off, killing the cinematographer and wounding director Joel Souza.
The actor’s involuntary manslaughter trial was upended in July when a judge threw the case out based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of ammunition evidence from the defence.
After the lawsuit was filed, Baldwin’s lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a joint statement given to the PA news agency: “Criminal prosecutions are supposed to be about the search for truth and justice, not to pursue personal or political gain or harass the innocent.
“Kari Morrissey and the other defendants violated that basic principle, over and over, and trampled on Alec Baldwin’s rights.
“We bring this action to hold the defendants accountable for their misconduct and to prevent them from doing this to anyone else.”
Representatives for Ms Carmack-Altwies have been contacted for comment.
