Selma Blair Faces Assault Charges After Midflight Outburst
Actress Selma Blair charged with assault after violent midflight incident, defense cites health issues.
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Actress Selma Blair, 54, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault after a violent incident during a Delta Air Lines flight. Her defense team attributed the alleged assault to a combination of missed medication, exhaustion, and a fall during the flight, which they claim led to severe confusion and disorientation.
Defense Attributes Behavior to Health Issues
During her court appearance, defense attorneys Shawn Barnes and Joshua Reitzas emphasized that Blair, who has multiple sclerosis, had missed multiple doses of her medication and had been working long hours on set before the flight. Barnes stated, “Ms. Blair missed several doses of a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms.” Reitzas added that the actress had fallen and hit her head during the flight, further contributing to her altered state.
The defense argued that these factors, combined with the effects of altitude, led to a state of severe confusion and disorientation, which they insist was not an intentional act. Reitzas also highlighted Blair’s reputation, calling her the “gold standard,” and urged the court to consider her body of work and contributions to the entertainment industry.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Judge Indira Khan dismissed the notion that Blair’s celebrity status should influence the case, stating that her fame should not carry any weight in the matter. Blair was set bail at $20,000 cash, $60,000 bond, or a $60,000 partially secured bond.
According to the criminal complaint, Blair allegedly freed one leg from restraints while being transported from the airport to the hospital and kicked a Port Authority police officer several times in the face, neck, and chest. She also kicked a nurse in the chest while being treated at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Separately, the FBI has issued Blair a federal summons for assault aboard the aircraft, where she allegedly attacked two flight attendants, biting at least one of them. The matter will be handled in federal petty violations court in Brooklyn.
Source: Daily Wire
