Alec Baldwin is suing New Mexico officials for malicious prosecution, defamation after the Rust trial
Alec Baldwin is suing Santa Fe, New Mexico officials after a judge dismissed a manslaughter case against him in the 2021 fatal shooting of cameraman Halyne Hutchins on the set of “Rust.”
On Thursday, the 66-year-old actor filed a 73-page civil rights complaint in the First District Court in Santa Fe against Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and other officials and investigators in the case.
In documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Baldwin accuses the defendants of civil rights violations, including malicious prosecution, abuse of process and defamation, among other claims.
The lawsuit alleged that the defendants intentionally withheld exculpatory evidence and elicited false testimony while prosecuting the case. The documents said prosecutors “at every turn sought to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law.”
Alec Baldwin is suing for malicious prosecution and defamation after a judge dismissed a manslaughter case against him for fatally shooting cameraman Halyna Hutchins in 2021 on the set of “Rust.” (RAMSAY DE GIVE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“Defendants, while acting under cover of law, conspired to secure a baseless indictment against Baldwin and maliciously instituted or advanced Baldwin’s trial and conviction, thereby violating Baldwin’s constitutional rights through their improper use of the criminal process,” the lawsuit alleges.
Baldwin is seeking a jury trial and seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Santa Fe District Attorney’s office for comment.
The lawsuit names special prosecutor Kari Morrissey as one of the defendants. (Courtesy: Courts of New Mexico)
Later comes the lawsuit Morrissey retired the state’s notice of complaint against Baldwin last month.
The move to drop the appeal cemented Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer’s mid-trial decision to dismiss the case over claims police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.
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At the time, Baldwin’s attorneys, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, shared a joint statement with the Hollywood Reporter.
“Today’s decision to dismiss the appeal is a final confirmation of what Alec Baldwin and his lawyers have been saying from the beginning – this was an unspeakable tragedy, but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico,” the statement read.
The lawsuit alleged that the defendants, including Santa Fe County Prosecutor Mary Carmack-Altwies, intentionally withheld exculpatory evidence and elicited false testimony while prosecuting the case. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
In July of Sommer rejected manslaughter case against the “30 Rock” star after ruling that the prosecution withheld evidence from his legal team.
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“The state’s deliberate withholding of this information was deliberate and deliberate,” Sommer said. “If this conduct does not rise to the level of bad faith, it is certainly so close to bad faith as to show signs of burning prejudice.”
In October, Sommer confirmed her decision to dismiss the case.
Halyna Hutchins was shot while members of the “Rust” crew were inspecting a church scene on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Hutchins died shortly after being wounded while rehearsing for “Rust” in October 2021 at a filming ranch in suburban Santa Fe.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer, was pointing a revolver at Hutchins when it fired, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin said he pulled the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The Emmy Award winner was first charged with manslaughter in January 2023.
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In March, “Rust” gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez Reed was convicted of loading a live bullet into a revolver. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Fox News Digital’s Janelle Ash and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
