Alec Baldwin, the actor charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer of the film Rust, has received another legal victory as special prosecutor Andrea Reeb steps down from the case. Baldwin’s legal team filed a motion asking the judge to dismiss Reeb, citing her status as a Republican lawmaker in the New Mexico House of Representatives as “unconstitutional.” In response to this, Reeb announced that she’s stepping down from the case.
The office of New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney issued a statement to Yahoo Entertainment, saying, “After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down as special prosecutor in the Rust case. My priority in this case and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career has been justice for the victim. 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.”
Hutchins died on the set of Rust in 2021 when a gun Baldwin was holding discharged during rehearsals. Baldwin has repeatedly claimed that he did not pull the trigger. However, this will be a major point of contention at the trial. Last month, prosecutors downgraded one of the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, which carried the maximum sentence of five years in jail if convicted. Baldwin’s lawyers argued that prosecutors committed “an unconstitutional and legal error” by charging him “under a statute that did not exist under the state of the accident.”
Despite the controversy surrounding Rust, the film is set to resume production this spring at the Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana. Baldwin will return along with director Joel Souza, who was injured in the 2021 incident, and a mix of old and new crew.
