Alec Baldwin continues to face potential incarceration in the tragic incident involving the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his film “Rust.” However, Baldwin’s recent legal filings have shifted focus onto the special prosecutor, New Mexico state Rep. Andrea Reeb, accusing her of exploiting the case to advance her political career and infringing upon Baldwin’s Constitutional rights.
Reeb withdrew from the case last week after facing arguments that simultaneously exercising legislative and judicial powers was untenable. ABC News disclosed in their coverage that Baldwin’s attorneys submitted a motion outlining their concerns over Reeb’s involvement and reported private and public statements by the Santa Fe district attorney’s office.
Baldwin, charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, argues that Reeb’s involvement in the case coincided with her candidacy for the New Mexico House of Representatives, as revealed by a New York Times article about a private email exchange between Reeb and Santa Fe County district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies.
The Times reported on June 9, 2022, that Reeb texted the district attorney, suggesting her involvement in the case could benefit her campaign. Baldwin’s legal team alleges that Reeb sought to “publicize the fact that she was working on the case in order to advance her political career,” constituting an “abuse of the system” and violating Baldwin’s constitutional rights.
Baldwin’s attorneys cited a statement from the district attorney’s office spokesperson in response to their motion to remove Rep. Reeb from the case. The spokesperson accused Baldwin and his team of employing distraction tactics, emphasizing that Halyna Hutchins‘ death resulted from “gross negligence and a reckless disregard for safety on the ‘Rust’ film set.”
Reeb announced her decision to step down as special prosecutor in a statement released on Tuesday, claiming that her priority in this and every other case in her 25-year career has been justice for the victim. She acknowledged that the best way to ensure justice, in this case, would be to step down, allowing the prosecution to focus on the evidence and facts that demonstrate a flagrant disregard for fundamental safety protocols leading to Hutchins’ death. Reeb insisted she would not permit questions about her dual roles as legislator and prosecutor to obscure the critical issue at hand.
Hutchins tragically lost her life on October 21, 2021, when a firearm Baldwin was holding was discharged. Shortly after being charged with involuntary manslaughter, Baldwin’s attorney filed a motion to remove Reeb from the case.
Fox News Digital obtained court documents in which Baldwin’s attorney argued that Reeb could not simultaneously fulfill the roles of special prosecutor and New Mexico House of Representatives member. The legal documents contended that such an arrangement would contravene Article III of the New Mexico Constitution, which prohibits the concentration of distinct branch powers in one person. Baldwin’s lawyers expressed concern that, if courts approved this arrangement, future district attorneys could manipulate legislators controlling their budgets by appointing them to high-profile cases, thereby distorting the legislative process.
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In light of Reeb’s resignation, Baldwin’s lawyer, Luke Nikas, referred to the previous motion to disqualify her on Tuesday. He emphasized a section stating, “there is no question that Representative Reeb is violating both the plain text and the purpose of the New Mexico Constitution’s separation-of-powers provision by serving simultaneously as a legislator and a prosecutor.”
Sources: ConservativeBrief, ABC News