Actor Alec Baldwin has initiated a civil lawsuit against the prosecutors involved in his trial over the fatal 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the western film Rust. The lawsuit alleges malicious prosecution and violations of Baldwin’s civil rights.
Filed on Thursday in a state district court in Santa Fe, the case follows a judge’s decision in July to dismiss the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in connection with Hutchins’ tragic death.
The lawsuit names special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, three investigators from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, and the county board of commissioners as defendants.
Baldwin in fact claims that prosecutors pursued him for personal or political advantage, deliberately withheld exonerating evidence, and intentionally mishandled key evidence in the case.
Specifically, the lawsuit states, “Defendants, while acting under the color of law, conspired to procure a groundless indictment against Baldwin and to maliciously bring about or advance Baldwin’s trial and conviction, thus violating Baldwin’s constitutional rights by their improper use of the criminal process.”
The lawsuit also accuses the prosecutors of defamation, alleging that their public statements falsely implied Baldwin was responsible for Halyna Hutchins’ death.
“Defendants sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law,” the suit claims, further accusing Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Kari Morrissey of manipulating evidence and eliciting false testimony.
Baldwin was holding a pistol and pointing it at Hutchins when it discharged, resulting in her death and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he pulled back the hammer but did not pull the trigger before the revolver fired.
