RUST, New Mexico – Actor Alec Baldwin faces new accusations of leaking footage from the Rust movie set in an alleged attempt to sway his upcoming grand jury hearing. Baldwin, who is set to appear before the jury in November, has been accused of providing the footage to the media in hopes of garnering a favorable outcome. The leaked video reportedly captures Baldwin instructing crew members to move away from the path of a gun just moments before Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on October 21, 2021.
In court documents, New Mexico special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis claim that Baldwin may have released the footage through a third party to generate sympathy for himself. They argue that the video’s release was orchestrated to coincide with the grand jury proceedings, with the intention of biasing the jury. The prosecutors express concern that any recordings of the proceedings will be used to further undermine the grand jury process.
The leaked footage includes moments where Baldwin can be heard expressing concern for the safety of those involved in the filming. At one point, he requests that a crew member move to the other side of the camera to avoid any risk of injury. Baldwin’s role as both the film’s producer and actor has come under scrutiny, as the investigation into the Rust shooting case continues.
Furthermore, Morrissey and Lewis allege that the reporter who broke the story on NBC News had previously worked for CNN and conducted an interview with Baldwin and his attorney in August 2022. They assert that this previous interaction provided Baldwin with a platform to present his defense and deny pulling the trigger when the gun discharged, resulting in Hutchins’ death and Joel Souza’s injury.
The new evidence and accusations add complexity to Baldwin’s upcoming grand jury hearing and his efforts to seek dismissal of the indictment. The leaked footage and its alleged intentional timing raise questions about the actor’s motivations and potential influence on public opinion. As the case unfolds, the focus will be on the integrity of the grand jury process and the extent to which leaked materials can impact legal proceedings.