[ad_1]
Victory for Alec Baldwin as Rust special prosecutor QUITS after he called for her to be disqualified: Andrea Reeb insists in parting blow that actor’s ‘complete disregard for basic safety protocols’ led to Halyna Hutchins’ death
- Andrea Reeb announced on Tuesday that she was stepping down as special prosecutor in the Rust case, investigating the October 2021 shooting
- Alec Baldwin, whose gun accidentally fired, killing camerawoman Halyna Hutchins, argued Reeb – recently elected to state legislature – was conflicted
- Reeb said she was stepping aside to prevent her role as a politician becoming a distraction, but insisted in her statement that she felt Baldwin was guilty
Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor in the case against Alec Baldwin and Rust over the October 2021 fatal shooting of a camerawoman, has announced she is to step aside, in a victory for Baldwin.
Reeb was elected in November to the New Mexico house, and Baldwin’s lawyers argued that she was therefore ineligible to continue as special prosecutor.
Reeb investigated the shooting on behalf of the Santa Fe district attorney’s office and concluded that Baldwin and his team – he was a producer of the film, as well as its star – were responsible for the death of 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins.
In her parting statement, Reeb reiterated those views.
‘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,’ she said.
‘I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.’
Reeb was elected to the New Mexico representative house in November 2022, taking up the role at the start of this year
Alec Baldwin and the film’s armorer face two charges of involuntary manslaughter stemming from the incident in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Baldwin’s attorney, Lubke Nikas, last month filed a motion to have Reeb, a Republican, removed from the case. Baldwin is famously a passionate Democrat.
‘Ms. Reeb’s continued service as a special prosecutor in this case is unconstitutional,’ said Nikas.
‘The legal question is not a close one. She must be disqualified.’
He pointed to Section 1 of Article III of the New Mexico Constitution, noting that it states that a sitting member of the Legislature may not ‘exercise any powers properly belonging’ to either the executive or judicial branch.
He added: ‘As a special prosecutor, Representative Reeb is vested by statute with ‘all the powers and duties’ of a District Attorney, who is considered to be a member of either the judicial or executive branch of the New Mexico government.’
Baldwin was formally charged on January 31, along with the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.
He has insisted that the shooting was not his fault because he trusted those on set in charge of the weapons.
Reeb, a former District Attorney for New Mexico’s Ninth Judicial District, said at the time charges were announced: ‘We’re trying to definitely make it clear that everybody’s equal under the law, including A-list actors like Alec Baldwin.’
[ad_2]
Source link
