The family of a fallen U.S. Marine killed in Afghanistan has filed a second defamation lawsuit Friday in the Southern District of New York against Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin.
The widow and two sisters of the late Rylee J. McCollum alleged that Baldwin accused one of the sisters, Roice, of storming the U.S. Capitol after she posted a photo of herself to Instagram at a protest near the building on January 6, 2021, the New York Post reported. The sister did not participate in the riot that erupted that day.
Roice, along with her sister Cheyenne and McCollum’s widow, Jiennah, are seeking at least $25 million in damages, the outlet reported.
The suit alleges Baldwin commented on the post accusing her of “unlawful destruction” that led to the death of a Capitol police officer, likely referring to Brian Sicknick, who died after suffering two strokes, the outlet reported. Before the post, Baldwin previously sent Jinnah a check for $5,000 to support herself and her newborn baby.
“When I sent the $ for your late brother, out of real respect for his service to this country, I didn’t know you were a January 6th rioter,” Baldwin allegedly wrote.
“Protesting is perfectly legal in the country and I’ve already had my sit down with the FBI. Thanks, have a nice day!” Roice replied. (RELATED: Alec Baldwin Sued By Afghanistan Hero Rylee McCollum’s Family)
EXCLUSIVE: Alec Baldwin hit with $25 million lawsuit in New York by fallen Marine family on the anniversary of the 13 servicemen killed in the Kabul airport attack
My story and the complaint here: https://t.co/bLof1IqXrQ
— Emily Miller (@emilymiller) August 26, 2022
“I don’t think so,” Baldwin reportedly responded. “Your activities resulted in the unlawful destruction of government property, the death of a law enforcement officer, an assault on the certification of the presidential election. I reposted your photo. Good luck.”
Baldwin reposted the photo, which allegedly led Roice, Jiennah and Cheyenne to receive “hostile, aggressive, hateful messages” from his fans, the suit read. He also allegedly referred to Jiennah as an insurrectionist even though she did not participate in the “Stop in the Steal” rally. The suit claims social media users accused the three women of being white supremacists and Nazis, the outlet reported.
“Baldwin’s conduct was negligent and reckless as he should have known that making the allegations he did against Plaintiffs to his millions of followers would cause Plaintiffs harm,” the suit states.
Baldwin posted a message to Instagram saying, “Lots of Trumpsters chiming in here with the current cry that the attack on the Capitol was a protest, (a more peaceful form of which got a lot of other protestors imprisoned) and an exercise in democracy. That’s bulls—,” CNN reported. He later deleted the message.
Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas, accused the women of trying to punish the actor because he disagrees with their political opinions, CNN reported.
“Mr. Baldwin donated several thousand dollars to Ms. McCollum to honor her husband, and now she’s suing him for more because she disagrees with his political opinion about the insurrection that occurred on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol Building. We expect to prevail in this lawsuit, as we did the last time they filed it,” Nikas said Wednesday.
In January, the three women initially filed the lawsuit in Wyoming, where Roice and Cheyenne live, the New York Post reported. The judge dismissed the case in May ruling that she has no jurisdiction over Baldwin, who lives in New York.