New York lawsuit seeks to end pro-gun NRA amid claims of ‘greed, abuse and illegality’

NEW York’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit seeking to disband the National Rifle Association after claiming an 18-month investigation has revealed “greed, abuse and brazen illegality” among some of its executives. Letitia James claimed that mismanagement by the pro-gun organisation’s leadership contributed to a loss of more than $64 million (£48 million) over three years as she announced the move at a press conference yesterday.

She singled out four current or former executives including Wayne Lapierre, the NRA’S chief executive and the public face of the body, while detailing allegations of “corruption” at the top of the group, founded in 1871.

Among the claims was that Mr Lapierre spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in NRA funds on private plane trips for himself and his family.

Ms James was able to make the move because the NRA is registered as a charity in the state of New York. There were also allegations of expenses being signed off in bulk without proper approval and NRA money being spent on “lavish trips”, expensive dinners, travel agents and private security.

Ms James said the NRA’S funds, which given its charitable status should be used to benefit its five million members, had instead been turned into a

“personal piggy bank” by some of executive officers.

The NRA will firmly oppose the attempts to force it to disband, potentially setting up years of legal wrangling. Theoretically it could also move its headquarters to another state to ensure its survival. The NRA is the bestknown pro-gun lobbying group in

America and has been a major supporter of Donald Trump. A statement posted on the NRA’S Twitter feed said the organisation will “confront” and “prevail” against the lawsuit. “This was a baseless, premeditated attack on our organisation and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend,” part of the statement read.”