BALDWIN BANKS ON VIDEO IN FIGHT CASE

The lawyer for Alec Baldwin, who’s accused of hitting a man, claims there’s evidence to clear him

Video will vindicate Alec Baldwin after he was accused of slugging a man in the face over a parking space, the actor’s lawyer said Monday.

Baldwin himself said nothing as he was arraigned on a misdemeanour attempted assault charge and a charge of harassment, a violation, in the latest of his several brushes with the law over the years.

The Emmy winner has previously denied he punched anyone in the parking clash outside his Manhattan apartment building on November 2. Lawyer Alan Abramson echoed that denial on Monday and added that “incontrovertible video evidence” proves it “beyond all doubt”.

“Mr Baldwin did not commit any crime, and we are confident that once this matter is fully investigated, it will be resolved swiftly and appropriately in court,” Abramson said. He didn’t show the video and declined to give details about it.

PUNCHED? OR NOT?

Prosecutors, meanwhile, said in court papers that the 60year-old star told a police officer that the other driver “stole my spot”, used a vulgarity to describe him, and acknowledged: “I did push him.” Baldwin didn’t enter a plea. It’s normal not to do so at this stage of a Manhattan misdemeanour case. He was released without bail and is due back in court in January.

Baldwin tweeted after his arrest that reports of the episode were “egregiously misstated,” and his lawyer said on Monday that the actor’s “reputation has been damaged by media reports that claim that he punched a man on a New York City street”. The fracas began after the other driver pulled into a parking space that one of Baldwin’s relatives was holding for him, and the two men started quarrelling and pushing each other, police said.

As per a court complaint filed on Monday, the other driver told the police that Baldwin shoved him and hit him in the face with a closed hand, causing him pain. The 49-year-old man was taken to a hospital for treatment.

While police arrested Baldwin on assault and harassment charges, prosecutors changed them on Monday to attempted assault and harassment.

Baldwin, the former star of the sitcom 30 Rock and current host of Match Game, has portrayed President of the United States Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live.

PHOTO: ANDREW KELLY/REUTERS Actor Alec Baldwin had been arrested but later was released without bail