NY Attorney General Sues To Dissolve NRA
In a story just aired on WIVB-TV, New York’s attorney general has sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday, and is looking to put the organization out of business once and for all amidst allegations of improper spending and conduct on the part of some of the organization's most prominent members.
Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit pointed out a number of misspending and self-dealing allegations against the NRA's longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre and other organization executives.
James' main argument is that the organization's allegiance from citizens and extensive political connections allowed a culture of corruption and improper conduct to flourish.
The NRA’s influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets,” James said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse, which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA, because no organization is above the law.
James specifically named LaPierre and three executives as defendants:
- Corporate secretary and general counsel John Frazer,
- Retired treasurer and chief financial officer Wilson Phillips
- LaPierre’s former chief of staff Joshua Powell.
While the lawsuit contains many allegations and accusations, none of them have technically been charged with a crime.
The lawsuit comes right in the midst of the NRA's push to remain relevant in the 2020 presidential election, as their political influence could certainly play a factor in the outcome.