The special prosecutor in the “Rust” case, Andrea Reeb, announced on Tuesday that she is stepping down, a decision that is being described as another victory for actor Alec Baldwin.
The announcement came a month after Baldwin’s legal team filed a motion asking the judge to dismiss her, saying her status as a Republican lawmaker in the New Mexico House of Representatives was “unconstitutional.”
Baldwin, charged with two counts of manslaughter in the death of the film’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, has pleaded not guilty.
In a statement to Yahoo Entertainment, New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney’s Office said, “After careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to step down as Special Prosecutor in the Rust case. My priority in this case – and in every case I have prosecuted in my 25-year career – has been justice for the victim.”
“However, it has become clear that the best way for me to ensure justice is served in this case is to step aside so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for the protocols of basic security that led to the death of Halyna Hutchins I won’t let questions about my role as lawmaker and prosecutor obscure the real issue.