Alec Baldwin Sues for ‘Malicious' Prosecution After Dismissal of Involuntary Manslaughter Charge in Rust Shooting

Alec Baldwin has filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit six months after an involuntary manslaughter charge against him, stemming from the 2021 Rust shooting, was dropped.

In a civil complaint obtained by PEOPLE on Thursday, Jan. 9, the actor, 66, sued prosecutors in the case, First Judicial District Attorney officials, Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office authorities and Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners for "malicious abuse of process, intentional spoliation of evidence, defamation, and violation of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act."

Baldwin, through his attorneys, alleged the defendants were "blinded by their desire to convict" him "for all the wrong reasons, and at any cost," for the fatal October 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin was indicted in January 2024 after a gun he was holding on the set of the film Rust discharged in October 2021, killing Hutchins. The charge was dismissed in July 2024 after Baldwin's attorneys alleged prosecutors had buried evidence. In December 2024, prosecutors dropped their notice to appeal the dismissal.

In his lawsuit, Baldwin maintains that on the day of the fatal shooting, he was handed a prop gun and a crew member yelled out "cold gun" to "assure Baldwin" and those nearby that the firearm only had "dummy rounds" in it. "The prop fired a live round that killed Hutchins," the complaint states.

He alleges "certain defendants" purposefully hid evidence and lied while on the stand, aiming to make Baldwin the "scapegoat" for the tragedy. He wants the defendants, which include special prosecutor Kari Morrisey and District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, to be "held accountable" for their "malicious and unlawful pursuit" against him.

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The lawsuit alleges Morrissey delivered "inconsistent" testimony on the evidence she allegedly concealed. It also alleges Carmack-Altwies defamed Baldwin when she said in a 2023 CNN interview that Baldwin “had a duty to make sure the set was safe," suggesting he was at fault for Hutchins' death.

"The false and defamatory statements carry the unmistakable message that Baldwin committed a serious crime—i.e., that he negligently or recklessly caused the death of another human," court documents allege.

Baldwin is suing for general and/or compensatory damages in an amount to be decided at trial. He's also suing for punitive damages and attorneys' fees.

“Criminal prosecutions are supposed to be about the search for truth and justice, not to pursue personal or political gain or harass the innocent,” his legal team Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas said in a statement to PEOPLE. “Kari Morrissey and the other defendants violated that basic principle, over and over, and trampled on Alec Baldwin’s rights. We bring this action to hold the defendants accountable for their misconduct and to prevent them from doing this to anyone else.”

Morrissey tells PEOPLE in a statement, "In October 2023 the prosecution team became aware that Mr. Baldwin intended to file a retaliatory civil lawsuit. This was three months before the grand jury indicted him. We look forward to our day in court."

PEOPLE reached out to Carmack-Altwies for comment.