The family of one of the 13 fallen marines killed in a terrorist attack during the disastrous US withdrawal from Afghanistan is suing actor Alec Baldwin after he accused them of being January 6 "insurrectionists" on Instagram.
The family of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum said in the lawsuit that Baldwin's comments on social media "were false, outrageous, defamatory, irresponsible, vindictive, and caused — and continue to cause — Plaintiffs severe emotional distress."
Following President Joe Biden's botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, Baldwin sent $5,000 to McCollum's pregnant widow to help with the expenses of the couple's soon to be born child.
According to court documents, Baldwin sent the check to McCollum's sister, Roice, and requested that she pass it on to her brother's widow, Jiennah.
On January 3, Roice posted a picture of herself at the Washington Monument on Instagram that was taken on January 6, the same the riot occurred at the US Capitol. According to court documents, Roice did not participate in any unlawful events that occurred that day.
Baldwin got wind of Roice's photo and exchanged "defamatory" words with her over direct messages on Instagram, accusing her of being a "rioter." He then decided to post her photo on his personal Instagram page and wrote in the caption that Roice was an "insurrectionist." Baldwin has since deleted the post.
"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 wrote to Roice through Instagram messenger.
Roice responded, "Protesting is perfectly legal in the country and I've already had my sit down with the FBI. Thanks, have a nice day!"
"I don't think so," Baldwin replied. "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."
Court documents allege that during the peaceful march to the US Capitol that turned into a riot, Roice became entrapped in the crowd due to the area being locked down.
"During the rioting, she was stuck in place outside the Capitol Building next to multiple police officers for hours after the rioting began due to the fact that so many people were around her and the area had been locked down," the lawsuit reads. "Later, a neighbor who was unhappy that Roice attended the demonstration turned her into the authorities."
Baldwin has not issued a public statement in regards to the lawsuit.