The NRA responded by suing James in federal court, saying she had violated the NRA’s right to free speech and seeking to block her investigation.
New York state’s attorney general sued to dissolve the National Rifle Association on Thursday, alleging senior leaders of the non-profit group diverted millions of dollars for personal use and to buy the silence and loyalty of former employees. The lawsuit filed in a Manhattan court by Attorney General Letitia James alleges NRA leaders paid for family trips to the Bahamas, private jets and expensive meals that contributed to a $64 million reduction in the NRA’s balance sheet in three years, turning a surplus into a deficit. The NRA responded by suing James in federal court, saying she had violated the NRA’s right to free speech and seeking to block her investigation. James alleged in a statement that NRA leaders “used millions upon millions from NRA reserves for personal use,” failing to comply with the NRA’s own internal policies in addition to state and federal law. She told reporters the NRA “has operated as a breeding ground for greed, abuse and brazen illegality,” adding that “no one is above the law.” The lawsuit names the NRA and four leaders including Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice-president who has been atop the leadership for nearly three decades.
