District attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies speaks at a news conference after actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the film set of the movie “Rust” in Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 27, 2021.
Adria Malcolm | Reuters
The New Mexico district attorney who had overseen the “Rust” movie set manslaughter case recused herself Wednesday and appointed new special prosecutors after weeks of upheaval and controversy in the case.
Actor Alec Baldwin and the movie’s original armorer, Hanna Gutierrez-Reed, are each charged with manslaughter in the accidental fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in 2021. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry 18-month prison sentences.
New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies appointed New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to serve as special prosecutors. The move comes two weeks after the previous special prosecutor, Andrea Reeb, stepped down after Baldwin’s lawyers pressed for her removal, claiming her appointment was unconstitutional.
“My responsibility to the people of the First Judicial District is greater than any one case, which is why I have chosen to appoint a special prosecutor in the ‘Rust’ case,” Carmack-Altwies said in a statement. “Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis will unflinchingly pursue justice in the death of Halyna Hutchins on behalf of the people of First Judicial District.”
Morrissey and Lewis told CNBC via email: “We will not be making statements to the press at this time. We need to focus on preparing for the upcoming preliminary hearing.”
CNBC has reached out to Baldwin’s lawyers for comment. Jason Bowles, who represents Gutierrez-Reed, told CNBC via email he had no comment “at this time” concerning Carmack-Altwies’ recusal.
Earlier this week, New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ruled that Carmack-Altwies could not appoint a new special prosecutor unless the DA’s office planned to fully recuse itself…
Read the full article here
