Special prosecutor in Alec Baldwin case steps down following pressure from Baldwin’s legal team

Following pressure from Alec Baldwin’s legal team, Andrea Reeb, who was the special prosecutor in the fatal “Rust” movie set shooting case, has stepped down from her role in the case.

“After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step down as special prosecutor in the ‘Rust’ case,” Reeb said in a statement shared by the office of New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney on Tuesday.

Reeb went onto say: “My priority in this case—and in every case I’ve prosecuted in my 25-year career—has been justice for the victim.”

“However, it has become clear that the best way I can ensure justice is served in this case is to step down so that the prosecution can focus on the evidence and the facts, which clearly show a complete disregard for basic safety protocols led to the death of Halyna Hutchins. I will not allow questions about my serving as a legislator and prosecutor to cloud the real issue at hand.”

In February, Baldwin’s defense lawyers filed a motion requested that Reeb be removed from the case, stating that New Mexico’s constitution explicitly bars people from holding a position in one branch of government while executing the powers of another branch.

Luke Nikas, who is one of Baldwin’s lawyers, did not directly comment on Reeb taking herself off the course, but did refer to his initial motion to have Reeb disqualified, “no question that Representative Reeb is violating both the plain text and the purpose of the New Mexico Constitution’s separation-of-powers provision by serving simultaneously as a legislator and a prosecutor.”

The district attorney’s office confirmed that all necessary paperwork for Reeb’s resignation had been filed with the court.  The DA’s office also confirmed that they would be making no further comment at this time.