The special prosecutor in the fatal October 2021 Rust movie shooting case announced her resignation on Tuesday, weeks after Alec Baldwin’s legal team claimed her participation was unconstitutional.
Andrea Reeb is a New Mexico state representative, and by acting as a member of both the judicial and legislative branches of the state government, Baldwin’s attorneys argued that “her continued service as a special prosecutor is unconstitutional.”
“My priority in this case—and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career—has been justice for the victim,” Reeb said in a statement. However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols led to the death of Halyna Hutchins.”
“I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand,” Reeb added.
But those questions were raised by a defense team that argued their client, Baldwin, did nothing wrong when firing a gun on set and killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter last month.
Prosecutors have argued that Baldwin skipped required firearms training and created a “climate of recklessness.” Late last month, Baldwin, along with producers on Rust, were separately sued by three former crew members who argued that the defendants did not follow safety rules, ignored warning signs, and rushed to finish the film, leading to the tragic shooting.
Regarding Reeb’s resignation, a lawyer for Baldwin declined to comment Tuesday but pointed to an earlier filing saying there was “no question” Reeb had violated the constitution’s separation-of-powers provision, per NBC News.
Paperwork for Reeb’s dismissal from the case has been filed with the court, the office of New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney told the Washington Examiner, adding that it has no further comment at this time.
Initially, Baldwin faced a minimum five-year sentence if found guilty. However, his attorneys were able to argue that the district attorney had illegally charged him under a firearms law that was not in place in October 2021 at the time that the shooting occurred.
A weapons supervisor for the film, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting. She also pleaded not guilty.
She and Baldwin face 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine if they are convicted.
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Reports surfaced last month that Rust would resume filming in the spring with a different backdrop. Instead of New Mexico, the production would move to Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana, per the movie’s producers.
Baldwin remains an actor in the movie as well as a producer.
