
Alec Baldwin sues New Mexico prosecutors over ‘Rust’ trial
By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)
Actor Alec Baldwin is suing New Mexico prosecutors. The lawsuit accuses them of malicious prosecution and civil rights violations.
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The suit was filed nearly six months after a judge dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin. The dismissal cited prosecutors’ failure to disclose key evidence to the defense.

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Baldwin alleges evidence manipulation
In the lawsuit, Baldwin claims prosecutors and investigators targeted him unfairly. He accuses them of deliberately concealing or manipulating evidence. The suit alleges they were “blinded by their desire to convict” and sought to “scapegoat” him.
Baldwin is seeking damages for “malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.”
The actor maintains he was handed a prop gun on the set of “Rust” and loudly called out “cold gun” to confirm its safety. According to the lawsuit, this was a standard practice to assure cast and crew the weapon had been inspected.
Meanwhile, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the movie’s weapons supervisor, is serving a one-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Her case, however, is under appeal.
Filming for “Rust” resumed in August 2024, and the movie premiered globally in November. Since then, Baldwin has returned to public life, appearing on “Saturday Night Live” and announcing an upcoming reality TV show with his family.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
Alec Baldwin is suing New Mexico prosecutors over his “Rust” trial.
The actor filed the civil lawsuit Thursday, accusing them of malicious prosecution and civil rights violations after the fatal death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in 2021. This comes nearly six months after a judge dismissed involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin, citing prosecutors’ failure to properly disclose evidence to the defense.
Baldwin alleges that prosecutors and investigators targeted him and deliberately concealed or manipulated evidence. The lawsuit claims they were “blinded by their desire to convict” and accuses them of trying to “scapegoat” him.
Baldwin is seeking damages for malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act.
The lawsuit reiterates that Baldwin was handed a prop gun by a crew member and loudly called out “cold gun” to assure everyone it was safe. Weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is currently serving a 1.5-year sentence at a state penitentiary, though her case is under appeal.
As for “Rust,” filming resumed in August last year, and the movie premiered globally in November. Baldwin has since returned to work, making appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and announcing an upcoming reality TV show with his family.
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