Special Prosecutor in Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter The court dismissed the case.
Andrea Reeb announced Tuesday that she will voluntarily resign, according to a petition filed by the actor’s attorney that the judge asked to remove her because of her separate political work as a member of the New Mexico state legislature.
The case will continue, but it’s not clear who will replace Reeb, a Republican elected to the 64th district in the state’s lower house. Her resignation is the second major setback for prosecutors. In February, they had to withdraw a “arms enhancement” charge that should have served a mandatory five-year prison sentence because the law was passed. Later October 2021 shooting on the set of Western dramas rust took the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Baldwin and the armor maker Hannah Gutierrez-Reed both face this additional charge as they face trial for involuntary manslaughter. Film’s assistant director, Dave’s Hall, who was in charge of safety on set, accepted a plea agreement on the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. He received a suspended sentence and six months of probation.
In her statement, Reeb, who served as a prosecutor for life before being elected to the state legislature last November, said she resigned to avoid distraction: “After much thought. I have made the difficult decision to resign as special counsel in rust case. My priority in this case—and in every case I have prosecuted in my 25-year career—is victim justice. However, it is clear that the best way that I can ensure that justice is served in this case is to resign so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and facts that clearly show their disregard for the law. often completely basic safety procedures led to Halyna Hutchins’ death. I will not allow questions about my role as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”
Baldwin’s attorney sought to remove her by quoting Article III of the New Mexico Constitution, which restricts members of one branch of government, such as the state legislature, from serving in another, such as the judiciary. They declined to comment for this story.
The Santa Fe County District Attorney’s office said it has no information on who could fill Reeb’s blank.
