Joy Behar issues ‘clarification’ after bizarre Alec Baldwin conspiracy theory fails to land

“The View” co-host Joy Behar pushed a conspiracy theory Friday that actor Alec Baldwin is being targeted by Republicans because of his leftist politics after being criminally charged over shooting and killing his cinematographer on the set of the movie “Rust.”

(Video Credit: The View)

Behar questioned whether Baldwin actually deserved to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. She made it clear she knows nothing about guns and couldn’t understand how the actor would be required to check the gun before using it. She went on to accuse the person who indicted him of being a “big Republican.”

“The DA who is indicting him — or whatever the legal term is right now — she’s a big Republican. I’m only saying this because Alec Baldwin is a target for Republicans. They cannot stand him, OK? I’m just saying,” Behar charged.

Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin groaned over the assertion.

Behar then said, “I’m not saying anything more than that!”

Baldwin was charged on Thursday with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was the armorer on the set, received two counts of involuntary manslaughter as well.

The tragic death of Hutchins occurred during filming in October 2021. The gun that Baldwin used during a scene fired a live round at the film crew. There should not have been one in the gun but the actor should have also checked it before using it. Most actors make it a practice to do so.

The special prosecutor appointed by the DA to the case, Andrea Reeb, issued a statement saying, “The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the ‘Rust’ film set. In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don’t take our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously.”

Behar evidently doesn’t think Baldwin should be charged at all and wants to know why others weren’t held accountable as well.

Her logic on the issue is that other people are responsible for props, not the actor.

“I have to say, before I even throw it out there, that there were four other producers on the show who have not been charged, on the movie,” she pointed out. “Why? That’s one question I have. He is — he was a producer of story credit. So, he had creative involvement, not exactly the job of somebody who would have to check the gun. That’s the job of other people.”

“As a person who’s been in a couple of movies, all you’re thinking of is your part when you are an actor,” she noted. “You’re not worried — I was not worried that that set — my brassiere’s going to fall off me or whatever. Somebody else has to worry about that. You’re interested in your lines, in your character, and ‘Where am I now?’”

Griffin took issue with Behar’s argument.

“In the state of New Mexico, involuntary manslaughter means unintentionally killing someone by being negligent. So negligence alone is the standard that you have to meet,” she explained. “Guns are used in movies every day and there are processes and steps taken.”

(Video Credit: CNN)

Behar returned to the point that there were four other producers close to the accident who were not charged.

Griffin responded to that contention, “I’m not sure that they should be. It seems like there was a lot of safety recklessness on this set. There were live rounds co-located with fake ammunition.”

Behar would be forced in the following segment to issue a clarification on her accusation against Republicans.

“Clarification [on] something I said last segment,” she stated. “It’s the special prosecutor who’s now the Republican politician in New Mexico, and not the current DA. I get them mixed up sometimes. So, sue me.”

Andrea Reeb, who was tapped as special prosecutor in the case, is a Republican. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies is a Democrat. Both are going after Baldwin over the shooting.

Carmack-Altwies said in a statement Thursday that her office “before the end of the month will file criminal charges in the Rust’ film-set shooting.” She was good to her word on it.

Involuntary manslaughter is a fourth-degree felony and is normally punishable by up to 18 months behind bars and a $5,000 fine. But a firearm enhancement on the charges could make the crime punishable by a mandatory sentence of five years in jail, according to prosecutors.

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