Photo: Courtesy of Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office
Alec Baldwin’s legal team has notched another win after the special prosecutor in charge of theRustshooting case announced she was stepping down on Tuesday.
The fatal 2021 on-set shooting killed cinematographerHalyna Hutchinsand injured director Joel Souza. Baldwin, 64, pleadednot guiltyto involuntary manslaughter charges in the case.RustarmorerHannah Gutierrez-Reedis also facing similar charges.
Court records show Baldwin’s legal team filed a motion on Feb. 7 to disqualify Andrea Reeb, claiming her dual role as special prosecutor and a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives was “unconstitutional,” according to the motion.
Reeb is a former district attorney for New Mexico’s Ninth Judicial District. The motion states she resigned from her post in March 2022 to campaign for the New Mexico House of Representatives and was later appointed as special prosecutor in the case. Reeb went on to win her seat as a state legislator during the November election.
A hearing was set for March 27 for Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer to hear from both sides on the motion to disqualify Reeb. But now, Reeb has unexpectedly quit.
“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.”
A request for comment to Baldwin’s attorney was not immediately returned to PEOPLE on Tuesday.
RELATED VIDEO: Alec Baldwin Sees Charge Dropped in ‘Rust’ Shooting, Faces Reduced Prison Sentence
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In a statement to PEOPLE on Jan. 19, another attorney for Baldwin, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, said the announcement of criminal charges against the actor “distorts Halyna Hutchins' tragic death andrepresents a terrible miscarriage of justice.”
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun — or anywhere on the movie set,” Nikas added. “He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win.”
source: people.com
