Prosecutors question Alec Baldwin's emotional instability on 'Rust' set
New Mexico prosecutors are preparing to argue that actor Alec Baldwin exhibited emotional instability during the filming of Rust. They allege that his erratic behavior—including shouting and swearing—compromised the safety of those present on set. Prosecutor Kari Morrissey publicly stated on Monday, "To watch Baldwin's conduct on the set of Rust is to witness a man who has absolutely no control of his own emotions and absolutely no concern for how his conduct affects those around him."
Why does this story matter?
The 66-year-old actor is set to stand trial in July for involuntary manslaughter related to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the Rust set. The charges stem from an incident where Baldwin allegedly discharged a prop gun, leading to Hutchins's death in 2021. The case details were recently disclosed in a 32-page document filed by Morrissey, who accused the actor of changing his account of the shooting and shifting blame.
Baldwin's account of shooting disputed by prosecutor
Baldwin has consistently stated that he pulled back the hammer but did not fire the trigger on the replica Colt .45 involved in Hutchins's death. However, Morrissey dismissed this claim calling it "absurd" and noting that the actor didn't mention this during his initial police interview but introduced it a month later during an ABC interview. Morrissey stated, "Every time Baldwin spoke, a different version of events emerged from his mouth, and his later statements contradicted his previous statements."
Actor's defense alleged system abuse, plea deal rescinded
The case against Baldwin has seen numerous developments. The original prosecutors recused themselves and involuntary manslaughter charges were dropped before being reinstated last year. In March, Baldwin's defense team attempted to have the indictment dismissed, alleging "abuse of the system." However, Morrissey countered that Baldwin's defense team had engaged in "countless lies and manipulation" and subjected her and co-counsel Jason Lewis to personal attacks. Notably, Morrissey and Lewis took over the case in March 2023.
Morrissey explained why plea deal was initially withdrawn
In her filing, Morrissey explained her decision to initially drop felony charges against Baldwin last April and offer him a misdemeanor plea deal last fall. However, she later rescinded this offer and chose instead to indict him on a felony charge, which carries a maximum prison term of 18 months. Morrissey also revealed that Baldwin's defense intended to accept the plea while simultaneously launching a media campaign to downplay his guilt.
Film armorer found guilty in related case
In a related case in March, film armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for her role in the cinematographer's death. The trial scrutinized how a live round ended up in the chamber of Baldwin's prop gun when only blanks were supposed to be used on the Rust set. Following her conviction, Gutierrez-Reed could face up to 18 months behind bars. Meanwhile, David Hall—the first assistant director—received unsupervised probation after pleading guilty to negligent handling of the weapon.
