Alec Baldwin slammed as ‘privileged’ after ‘Rust’ shooting case officially ends

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: Alec Baldwin's legal troubles tied to the 2021 'Rust' shooting and the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins have officially ended in criminal court.

The Santa Fe District Attorney's Office confirmed that prosecutors withdrew their notice of appeal to revive the manslaughter case. Hutchins died on the set of 'Rust' three years ago.

Prosecutor Kari Morrissey expresses regret over case dismissal after withdrawing appeal

On Monday, December 23, special prosecutor Kari Morrissey released a statement addressing the decision to withdraw the appeal against Alec Baldwin.

"This has always been about seeking justice for Halyna Hutchins," Morrissey said.

"We regret that Mr Baldwin will not be held accountable for the role he played in the death of Halyna Hutchins and as we withdraw the appeal, we do so with the hope that the outstanding lawsuits bring some measure of justice to the family of Halyna Hutchins," Morrissey said.

Hutchins' family has scheduled a press conference to discuss the matter, according to USA Today.

Morrissey previously pushed back against New Mexico District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer's decision to dismiss Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charge.

Morrissey appealed Sommer's rulings from July and October, which upheld the dismissal of charges against Baldwin.

Alec Baldwin's attorneys call his dismissal of appeals a 'final vindication'

Alec Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, responded to the decision in a statement released by the publication.

"Today's decision to dismiss 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," Nikas and Spiro said. "The rule of law remains intact in New Mexico."

In 2022, Baldwin reached a settlement with Hutchins' family. However, her mother, Olga Solovey, criticized Baldwin in a statement released just days before the case's conclusion.

"It was always my hope to meet my daughter in Poland to watch her work come alive on screen. Unfortunately, that was ripped away from me when Alec Baldwin discharged his gun and killed my daughter," Solovey said.

Alec Baldwin threatened to expose truth about 'Rust' set shooting

Alec Baldwin recently addressed the case in an interview on David Duchovny's 'Fail Better' podcast, vowing to share his side of the story.

"The more to come is now my effort, and it's going to be undeniably a successful effort, to expose what really happened," Baldwin said, adding, "the truth of what happened has never been told."

The special prosecutor has not provided reasons for withdrawing the appeal. Notably, Baldwin was holding a prop gun that had been loaded with a live round when it discharged, killing Hutchens and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin has maintained he never pulled the gun's trigger and did not know it was loaded with a live round, which is prohibited by both industry and union guidelines.

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was accused of loading the gun, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March.

David Halls, the film's safety coordinator, pleaded no contest to negligent use of a firearm.

Internet reacts with anger over Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' case closure

Despite the case's closure, social media users expressed outrage, accusing Alec Baldwin of benefiting from privilege.

One comment read, "White privileged."

"Shocking. Another elite literally getting away with murder," wrote a user on X (formerly Twitter). Another commented, "It's great to be a rich leftist in a blue state."

Another provided a comparison to "The white OJ Simpson."

One more added, "Dude got away with murder," and another called it "Liberal privilege."

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