Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charges were officially dismissed Friday.
Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis announced the decision Thursday as “new facts” have been revealed that require further investigation.
A court hearing regarding the matter is scheduled for 4:30 ET.
Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in January after a gun he was holding fired on the set of “Rust,” killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
ALEC BALDWIN WILL RETURN TO ‘RUST’ SET THIS WEEK AS FILMING RESUMES AFTER FATAL SHOOTING
Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis were weeks away from having to show a judge there was enough evidence for a reasonable person to convict Baldwin at a preliminary hearing expected to last two weeks.
Baldwin had waived his first appearance in court and chose to waive his appearance at the upcoming preliminary hearing. The “mini-trial” was scheduled to begin May 3.
Celebrity defense lawyer Duncan Levin, who is not involved in this case, explained the prosecution was “flawed from the start.”
“It’s an overdue decision. This case was flawed from the start and clearly brought only because of Alec Baldwin’s fame,” Levin told Fox News Digital. “It was a shameful abuse of prosecutorial discretion, and the case’s failures were obvious from the start. The charges were trumped up and not appropriately brought.”
“It’s, I’m sure, a relief to Mr. Baldwin, but there should be some consequences to the state for bringing this in the first place. Better late than never, it’s at least good the state has come to this conclusion now without the need for a trial.”
Another legal expert called the criminal prosecution against Baldwin “a likely loser.”
“It seemed like a very difficult prosecution from the beginning. There was no upside for prosecution and the case was a likely loser,” personal injury lawyer John J. Perlstein, founder of his own firm, told Fox News Digital. “While I believe that the prosecution was trying to prove that celebrity status does not exempt you from the law, it seems there are too many setbacks to actually have found Baldwin to be acting with ‘criminal negligence.'”
Alec Baldwin seen in New York City after charges against him were initially announced. (Dario Alequin for Fox News Digital)
ALEC BALDWIN’S DROPPED ‘RUST’ CHARGES DO ‘NOT ABSOLVE HIM,’ MAY BE REFILED: SPECIAL PROSECUTORS
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained the mistakes made by the prosecution.
He noted that Baldwin was “overcharged” with the firearms enhancement, which carried a five-year minimum sentence. Rahmani also pointed out the first special prosecutor Andrea Reeb and the district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies both stepped down from the case. They were replaced by special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis.
“It’s really a lesson in what not to do if you’re a prosecutor,” he told Fox News Digital.
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Despite the charges being officially dropped, Baldwin isn’t technically in the clear. Special prosecutors Morrissey and Lewis claimed the decision “does not absolve” Baldwin and emphasized the investigation is still active and ongoing in a statement.
However, legal experts told Fox News Digital it’s unlikely.
“In theory, Baldwin could be charged again for her death, but after this, they most likely would not pursue it again,” Perlstein explained. “The case faced challenges from the start so I would think that no one wants to go down that slippery slope again.”
Rahmani agreed new charges against Baldwin would not be practical.
Baldwin returned to the set of “Rust,” now in Montana, for the first day of filming on April 20. Principal photography began roughly a year and a half after the production was halted due to Hutchins’ on-set death.
Joel Souza is spotted on the set of “Rust.” Souza was injured in the shooting tragedy on set while filming Rust in October 2021 involving Alec Baldwin. (Flight Risk for Fox News Digital)
The director of the film, Joel Souza, was photographed on set for the first time Friday. He was injured in the shooting that killed Hutchins.
“The production will continue to utilize union crew members and will bar any use of working weapons and any form of ammunition,” Melina Spadone, attorney for Rust Movie Productions, told Fox News Digital in a statement. “Live ammunition is — and always was — prohibited on set.”
Alec Baldwin resumed filming “Rust” on April 20 in Montana at Yellowstone Filming Ranch. (Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department)
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