Alec Baldwin is suing officials in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after a judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against him for the fatal 2021 shooting of cameraman Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.”
On Thursday, the 66-year-old actor filed a 73-page civil rights lawsuit in Santa Fe’s First Judicial District Court against Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and other officials and investigators in the case.
In documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Baldwin accuses the defendants of civil rights violations, including malicious prosecution, abuse of process and defamation, among others.
The lawsuit alleged that the defendants deliberately concealed exculpatory evidence and solicited false testimony as they pursued the case. The documents said prosecutors “attempted at every opportunity to scapegoat Baldwin for the actions and inactions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law.”
FATAL TIMELINE IN ALEC BALDWIN’S ‘RUST’ SHOOTING THAT LEAD TO ACTOR’S INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
Alec Baldwin is suing for malicious prosecution and defamation after a judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against him for the fatal 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.” (RAMSAY DE GIVE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“Defendants, while acting under color of law, conspired to obtain a baseless indictment against Baldwin and to maliciously procure or further the trial and conviction of Baldwin, thereby violating Baldwin’s constitutional rights by their improper use of the criminal process,” the lawsuit said.
Baldwin requests a jury trial and seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office for comment.
The lawsuit named special prosecutor Kari Morrissey as one of the defendants. (Courtesy: New Mexico Courts)
The trial comes next Morrissey withdrew the state’s appeal against Baldwin last month.
The move to withdraw the appeal reinforced Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer’s mid-trial decision to dismiss the case based on allegations that police and prosecutors withheld evidence from the defense.
Do you like what you read? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
At the time, Baldwin’s attorneys, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, shared a joint statement with the Hollywood Reporter.
“Today’s decision to deny the appeal is the final vindication of what Alec Baldwin and his attorneys have said from the beginning: this was an unspeakable tragedy, but Alec Baldwin committed no crime. The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico,” the statement said. read.
The lawsuit alleged that the defendants, including Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, deliberately concealed exculpatory evidence and elicited false testimony as they pursued the case. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
In July, Summer fired the involuntary manslaughter case against the “30 Rock” star after ruling that the prosecutor hid evidence from his legal team.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
“The state’s deliberate withholding of this information was intentional and deliberate,” Sommer said. “If this behavior does not rise to the level of bad faith, it certainly comes close enough to bad faith as to show signs of searing prejudice.”
In October, Sommer upheld her decision to dismiss the case.
Halyna Hutchins was shot while cast members of “Rust” were reviewing a church scene on set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Hutchins died shortly after being injured during a rehearsal for “Rust” in October 2021 at a film set on the outskirts of Santa Fe.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer, was pointing a revolver at Hutchins when it fired, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the revolver fired.
The Emmy Award winner was first charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
In March, “Rust” gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez Reed was convicted of loading a bullet into the revolver. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Fox News Digital’s Janelle Ash and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
