Meg James
Meg James is a senior entertainment industry writer for the Los Angeles Times. She was the lead reporter for The Times' coverage of the deadly “Rust” shooting on a New Mexico film set in 2021, work recognized by the Pulitzer Prize board as a finalist in breaking news. A member of the Company Town team for two decades, James specializes in covering television, corporate media and investigative projects. She previously wrote for the Miami Herald and the Palm Beach Post. A native of Wyoming, she is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Columbia University.
78%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
95%
Examples:
- Prosecutors had long argued that the gun would not have just gone off.
- The state knowingly destroyed the most important piece of evidence in the case without taking even the most basic steps to document its original condition.
Conflicts of Interest
100%
Examples:
No current examples available.
Contradictions
95%
Examples:
- Baldwin's attorneys and the two special prosecutors spent hours quizzing the firearms experts, forensic analysts and the Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputy who investigated the shooting.
- Prosecutors have offered other evidence they allege shows that Baldwin acted recklessly throughout filming of the low-budget western movie near Santa Fe and that he had a duty, as a producer, to make sure the film set was safe.
- The ruling by New Mexico First Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer allows the trial to go forward as planned.
Deceptions
35%
Examples:
- Baldwin's attorneys have repeatedly accused law enforcement officers and prosecutors of bungling the case, including by allegedly hiding evidence that could possibly solve the central mystery surrounding the Oct. 21, 2021, shooting.
- The decision ends a nearly three-year-long ordeal for the 30 Rock and Hunt for Red October star, which began in October 2021 when he accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop revolver during a rehearsal for the low-budget western.
- The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office received the evidence in question three months ago, but it was never turned over to Baldwin's defense team.
Recent Articles
New Evidence Leads to Dismissal of Alec Baldwin's Involuntary Manslaughter Case in Halyna Hutchins Shooting
Broke On: Friday, 12 July 2024Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial for the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on 'Rust' set was dismissed due to withheld evidence by law enforcement and prosecutors. The critical evidence, a batch of unexamined bullets, was deemed unimportant and buried. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer expressed her frustration over the handling of the evidence, leading to allegations of misconduct. Baldwin faced potential imprisonment if convicted in the October 2021 shooting incident that raised safety concerns on film sets. 
Judge Denies Baldwin's Motion to Dismiss Manslaughter Charges in 'Rust' Shooting Case
Broke On: Friday, 28 June 2024Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer denied Alec Baldwin's motion to dismiss involuntary manslaughter charges, allowing jury selection to begin on July 9, 2024. The ruling came after Baldwin's defense argued that destroyed evidence from the 'Rust' movie set shooting prevented them from testing the firearm in its original state. Halyna Hutchins was killed on set in October 2021 when Baldwin discharged a live round, and he faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.