New York sues to break up NRA, accuses it of corruption

By Daniel Trotta and David Shepardson

 

New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, speaks during a news conference, to announce a suit to dissolve the National Rifle Association, In New York, U.S., August 6, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

 

(Reuters) - 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.

 

The confrontation pits James, a Democrat, against the largest and most powerful gun organization in the United States, one closely aligned with President Donald Trump's Republican Party.

 

The actions are certain to further polarize a country where the NRA is revered by conservatives as a champion of the U.S. Constitution and its Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms while at the same time it is vilified by liberals as an enabler of rampant gun violence.

 

Trump sought to make it an issue for his re-election on Nov. 3 against Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

 

"Just like Radical Left New York is trying to destroy the NRA, if Biden becomes President your GREAT SECOND AMENDMENT doesn't have a chance," Trump said on Twitter. "Your guns will be taken away, immediately and without notice. No police, no guns!"

 

Biden has not called for confiscating guns. He has said he would seek to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, let people who own assault weapons sell them back voluntarily, and expand background checks.

 

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. At the same time, the attorney general for Washington, D.C., filed suit against the NRA, alleging the misuse of charitable funds. This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.

 

'POWER GRAB'

The NRA branded the lawsuit a "baseless, premeditated attack" and a "power grab" tied to the campaign.

 

"We not only will not shrink from this fight – we will confront it and prevail," NRA President Carolyn Meadows said in a statement.

 

Apparently expecting James' suit, the NRA fought back with the suit of its own in the Northern District of New York, saying James had been targeting the NRA politically ever since she ran for attorney general in 2018, vowing to take on the NRA which she called a "criminal enterprise."

 

The NRA is subject to New York law because it is registered there as a non-profit. Its physical headquarters are in Fairfax, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.

James' suit coincided with another one filed against the NRA and its foundation by the attorney general for Washington, D.C., in the district's Superior Court, alleging the misuse of charitable funds and wasteful spending.

 

Briefing reporters, James denied the New York suit was motivated by the NRA's support for Trump. Her written statement said the NRA's power had gone unchecked for decades, "which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA."

 

Gun control groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, both funded by billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, praised the suit.

 

"We have been warning regulators and the public about this corruption for years," Everytown said on Twitter.

 

Moms Demand Action sarcastically offered that "our thoughts and prayers are with Wayne LaPierre and his cronies at the NRA," mocking the common refrain used following mass shootings.

 

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta and David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Joseph Ax, Andrea Shalal and Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-07

 

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Oh I sense a tweet storm a coming lol the nra is a corrupt organization on that level I hope they win then the nra can reorganize and get back to what it was 

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

Moms Demand Action sarcastically offered that "our thoughts and prayers are with Wayne LaPierre and his cronies at the NRA,"

 

Ouch.

 

 

 

New York and California should just set up their own independent governments...they are so out of step with the rest of the nation...

 

Then they could burn, loot, and kill one another...and no one would care...

2 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

New York and California should just set up their own independent governments

 

Are you American?

 

New York, and California, do have their own governments.

 

Spoiler alert: so do the other 48 States and Commonwealths.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 20205 yr by mtls2005

1 hour ago, webfact said:

New York state's attorney general sued to dissolve the National Rifle Association on Thursday,

Damn it! Wherrrre's ma gun? You cain't do that! Ma gun is my teddy bear!

5 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Are you American?

 

New York, and California, do have their own governments.

 

Spoiler alert: so do the other 48 States and Commonwealths.

 

 

 

 

 

Did you miss the word "independent "?  They are still part of the Union and thus not autonomous...can not do as they please. 

7 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Damn it! Wherrrre's ma gun? You cain't do that! Ma gun is my teddy bear!

It would be funny if not many millions of Americans would think like that.

Interesting timing of the lawsuit.  Election coming up.  LOL

Don't worry Beto will be gun czar soon. 

29 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

Did you miss the word "independent "?  They are still part of the Union and thus not autonomous...can not do as they please. 

 

Oy vey.

 

State governments are "independent", and "autonomous".

 

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people."

 

For example: States can all have different laws regulating firearms.

 

A State AG should enforce the law. The NRA appears to be more akin to the Mob, than a non-profit advocacy group? Who has a problem with an AG enforcing the law?

 

 

31 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Interesting timing of the lawsuit.  Election coming up.  LOL

Or possibly something to do with the countless victims of gun crimes and school massacres in America!

1 minute ago, PatOngo said:

Or possibly something to do with the countless victims of gun crimes and school massacres in America!

Nah they've been going on for decades this is pure politicking as usual from the silly libs.

2 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Or possibly something to do with the countless victims of gun crimes and school massacres in America!

No, you're wrong. It's definitely an election time maneuvre by a well-known Trump hating AG.

5 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Nah they've been going on for decades this is pure politicking as usual from the silly libs.

OK, I get it, the mass killing is irrelevant, carry on then!  Wherrrre's ma gun?

7 minutes ago, Logosone said:

No, you're wrong. It's definitely an election time maneuvre by a well-known Trump hating AG.

Time to go to school, wherrre's ma gun?

1 hour ago, Puchaiyank said:

New York and California should just set up their own independent governments...they are so out of step with the rest of the nation...

 

Then they could burn, loot, and kill one another...and no one would care...

New York and California have already got their own separate Governments, so has every other State in the Inion.

 

Doh!

1 hour ago, Puchaiyank said:

New York and California should just set up their own independent governments...they are so out of step with the rest of the nation...

 

Then they could burn, loot, and kill one another...and no one would care...

You do know that California and new York are the two most prosperous states rite?and I know it’s not as exciting but the protesters are 99.5% peaceful just want bad cops held accountable no the nra is corrupt and needs to be reorganized if it’s to maintain its non profit Statius no more no less and hey with some sensible gun laws lots less violence that would be a good thing imo

1 hour ago, PatOngo said:

Time to go to school, wherrre's ma gun?

 

You see that spot on the sidewalk where it says "Blacklivesmatter" You can find a gun anywhere near there.

12 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

You see that spot on the sidewalk where it says "Blacklivesmatter" You can find a gun anywhere near there.

No I don't know. Guess what, I'm NOT American! Do you mean there's a Walmart nearby, or is it that every man and his dog has a gun?

16 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

You see that spot on the sidewalk where it says "Blacklivesmatter" You can find a gun anywhere near there.

Triggered (pun intended).

I understand the premise of the suit. The NRA was established about 100 years ago as a non-profit organization.

 

The NRA is anything but.

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Triggered (pun intended).

Noice!

Backdoor to restricting 2nd amendment rights.  They are using the power and money of the government to bankrupt the NRA by creating legal expenses.  You mean to tell me that only the NRA is "corrupt"  Try most unions, certainly the teamsters, how about the NAACP or certainly Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition which is a shakedown racket.  How about the Clinton's Foundation which is just a conduit for influence peddling donations and almost nothing going to philanthropic causes. 

9 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

Backdoor to restricting 2nd amendment rights.  They are using the power and money of the government to bankrupt the NRA by creating legal expenses.  You mean to tell me that only the NRA is "corrupt"  Try most unions, certainly the teamsters, how about the NAACP or certainly Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition which is a shakedown racket.  How about the Clinton's Foundation which is just a conduit for influence peddling donations and almost nothing going to philanthropic causes. 

That's an obvious "red herring" argument - "They did it so why can't the NRA?"

NOT a restriction to 2nd amendment. The NRA claims to be non-profit yet can donate million$ to politicians. Reorganize as a for-profit then get taxed.

Regarding the others you mention? YES, take THEM on as well!

14 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

Backdoor to restricting 2nd amendment rights.  They are using the power and money of the government to bankrupt the NRA by creating legal expenses.  You mean to tell me that only the NRA is "corrupt"  Try most unions, certainly the teamsters, how about the NAACP or certainly Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition which is a shakedown racket.  How about the Clinton's Foundation which is just a conduit for influence peddling donations and almost nothing going to philanthropic causes. 

If the NRA are struggling they’ll just have to lay off a few Republican Senators.

3 minutes ago, J Town said:

NOT a restriction to 2nd amendment. The NRA claims to be non-profit yet can donate million$ to politicians. Reorganize as a for-profit then get taxed.

Regarding the others you mention? YES, take THEM on as well!

J Town   That is the point.  No different than Obama using the IRS to target conservative groups.   The left is using the unlimited power of the purse to destroy those it is against.  It does not matter if the charges are true.  With unlimited money the State of New York can bankrupt anyone one person/organization " the attorney general" disagrees with. The very fact they don't go after organizations with far more egregious  activities shows they are really not about justice, they are about punishing their enemies. 

 

2 minutes ago, Thomas J said:

J Town   That is the point.  No different than Obama using the IRS to target conservative groups.   The left is using the unlimited power of the purse to destroy those it is against.  It does not matter if the charges are true.  With unlimited money the State of New York can bankrupt anyone one person/organization " the attorney general" disagrees with. The very fact they don't go after organizations with far more egregious  activities shows they are really not about justice, they are about punishing their enemies. 

No, you're still trying to stretch out that red herring. The NRA has been cooking the books to maintain a non-profit status:

"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."

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-new-york-attorney-general/new-york-seeks-to-break-up-national-rifle-association-alleging-financial-mismanagement-idUSKCN2522BG

 5 million members of which 4 are  gop and 1 dems!

Thanks New York you just gave spin to attacking my countries second amendment rights during a election year

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/07/05/among-gun-owners-nra-members-have-a-unique-set-of-views-and-experiences/

Edited August 7, 20205 yr by riclag

5 minutes ago, riclag said:

 5 million members of which 4 are  gop and 1 dems!

Thanks New York you just gave spin to attacking my countries second amendment rights during a election year

Perhaps you didn't read my post above. There is NO attack on 2nd amendment rights. The NRA has been cooking the books to maintain a non-profit status. Dissolve them, let them regroup as a FOR-profit, tax-paying organization.

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-new-york-attorney-general/new-york-seeks-to-break-up-national-rifle-association-alleging-financial-mismanagement-idUSKCN2522BG