New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre for allegedly taking millions of dollars for personal use and granting contracts that directly benefited the families and friends of leadership.
“Just a few minutes ago, my office filed a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association to dissolve the organization in its entirety for years of self-dealing and illegal conduct that violate New York’s charity law and undermine its own mission,” James told reporters during a press conference Thursday.
According to Fox News, James also seeks to dissolve the organization for taking advantage of funding for personal gain.
“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 added.
The lawsuit accuses top executives of using organization funds to finance lavish lifestyles. According to NPR, the NRA’s losses have totaled more than $64 million over a period of three years. The official complaint is 163 pages long and accuses Pierre, CFO Woody Phillips, former Chief of Staff Joshua Powell, and General Counsel John Frazer of financial misconduct.
“For nearly three decades, Wayne LaPierre has served as chief executive officer of the NRA and has exploited the organization for his financial benefit, and the benefit of a close circle of NRA staff, board members, and vendors,” the complaint says.
James tweeted Thursday that the NRA is “fraught with fraud and abuse” and says “no organization is above the law”.
#BREAKING: I filed a lawsuit to dissolve the National Rifle Association for years of self-dealing and illegal conduct.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) August 6, 2020
The @NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse.
No organization is above the law.
NRA President Carolyn Meadows told the Daily Caller that the lawsuit is a baseless attack against the organization and the Second Amendment.
“It’s a transparent attempt to score political points and attack the leading voice in opposition to the leftist agenda. This has been a power grab by a political opportunist -- a desperate move that is part of a rank political vendetta,” Meadows said.
The National Rifle Association is considered the largest, most influential pro-gun organization and staunch defenders of the Second Amendment. The NRA was founded as a non-profit in New York in 1871.
Watch a clip from the press conference here:
BREAKING: New York AG Letitia James announces that she is filing a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the @NRA.
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 6, 2020
She accuses the organization of “years of self-dealing and illegal conduct that violate New York’s charities law and undermine its own mission.”pic.twitter.com/oddMGEnqm4