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Alec Baldwin is Not, Repeat NOT, Being Criminally Charged for Shooting an Employee to Death on the Set of the Movie He is Producing

Mark Sagliocco. Getty Images.

Like any good true crime podcast, the Case of the Super Handsome Actor With the Voice of a Greek God Who Accidentally Put a Fatal Bullet Into His Own Employee on a Movie Set has taken many twists and turns. 

Beginning, as the all do, with the killing of an innocent who was held in high esteem by all who knew her. And who had the obligatory "smile that could light up a room." Followed by denials from the chief suspect. Finger pointing. Victim shaming. Claims to be the true victim. An investigation that seemed to take forever. Promises by the accused to fully cooperate in order to clear their good name. Those promises broken:

Until, finally, criminal charges were brought:

All this said, here's a reminder that charges are just that. The standard of proof to formally charge a citizen of these here United States is far higher than the standards of proving them guilty. That that difference is the foundation upon which this occasionally great nation was built. We are all entitled to our presumption of innocence. The right to face our accusers. And to be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by 12 of our peers who couldn't get out of jury duty. And that benefits us all.

It's just that in some cases, depending on how big a celebrity you are, you don't even need to let it get that far:

Sources - Criminal charges against Alec Baldwin over the fatal shooting on the set of his movie “Rust” have been dropped, according to his lawyers.

Baldwin, 65, was charged with involuntary manslaughter over the Oct. 21, 2021 shooting of 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the Western movie, after a prop pistol he was using for a scene unexpectedly fired a real bullet.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges, brought by the Santa Fe district attorney.

In a statement to The Post, Baldwin’s lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said, “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.” …

Filming for the movie is due to resume in Montana this week.

A second person accused of involuntary manslaughter alongside Baldwin, the film’s former armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is still facing charges in connection with the shooting.

And that, in case you needed an abject lesson, is what real power is all about. Since we're talking about one of the great actors of his generation, I'll reference a great scene in a great movie, Batman Begins. When Bruce Wayne confronts Carmine Falcone in a bar he runs. And the mob boss puts a gun in his face and lets the millionaire orphan he could put a bullet in his head right then in there and no one would do a thing about it. 

Or to paraphrase the ex-President Baldwin that himself has made a nice career out of imitating who famously said he could shoot someone in broad daylight on 5th Avenue and get away with it, ironically enough Baldwin did him one better. He pulled the trigger on a gun that took a life in front of dozens of witnesses with cameras rolling. On a movie set he was in charge of. And not only will he not get held accountable, he won't even have to take it to trial. A jury won't have to weigh in on it because the charges are dropped. Instead, it's right back to work finishing this cinematic masterpiece.

That is nothing if it isn't power. Real, true, actual power. In case you're not aware, it's good to be handsome, talented, famous, and rich.

You think Alec Baldwin has a God Complex? Apparently he IS God.