Baldwin angry over assault charge

Vocal Trump critic and SNL impersonator blasts ‘aggressive’ media

TONY WONG Alec Baldwin’s take on assault and harassment charges filed against him over a parking spot incident that was heard around the world: He didn’t do it and will be exonerated in court. “The argument that I punched somebody in the face over a parking spot is absurd,” Baldwin told the Star in his first interview and public comments since charges were laid in New York on Nov. 2.

“I’m sure there are three cameras in front of my building and I’ve seen the footage from all three of those cameras,” continued the actor and vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“There are all these vermin out there who want to kill the opponents of Trump, and so you end up with a hundred photographers in front of my house after the news breaks that I punched this guy in the face. But when the D.A. exonerates me in the coming days and I have a piece of paper in my hand, there will be none of these guys out there to report that and exonerate me.”

Police arrested Baldwin after a 49-year-old man was allegedly punched, sustaining an injury to the left jaw. A court date has been set for Nov. 26.

“They (media) are very aggressive when they want to set up a story that incriminates you or humiliates you. These people want to end your career. Literally their goal is to make sure you can’t feed your family,” says an angry Baldwin. “In the meantime they’re saying I punched this guy in the face and that’s not true. When the D.A. drops the charges do you think they will be outside my house apologizing to me?” When asked whether he thought the assault charges were a “set-up” by forces out to discredit him, Baldwin replies: “I never said that, you did.”

Baldwin, 60, currently hosts ABC’s The Alec Baldwin Show, in addition to famously portraying Trump on Saturday Night Live. When asked by White House reporters what he thought of the charges, the president was uncharacteristically mellow, given the acrimony the two have had in the past. “I wish him luck,” Trump said. In the interview with the Star, Baldwin was also critical of right-wing media, which he says have served to undermine Trump critics such as himself.

“There is a legitimate media on the right side of journalistic ethics — many are giving their best efforts and straining under horrible financial constraints,” says Baldwin, pointing a finger at outlets “that are out to hurt people. Their goal is to hurt and maim and humiliate people.

“Trump was right about the press, but he was pointing the finger in the wrong direction.”

He will be in Toronto to speak at the Unique Lives & Experiences event at Roy Thomson Hall on Dec. 3, titled A Hilarious Evening With Alec Baldwin.

“The argument that I punched somebody in the face over a parking spot is absurd.” ALEC BALDWIN ON ASSAULT CHARGE

Alec Baldwin expects to be cleared of an assault charge laid outside his apartment on Nov. 2.