Longtime NRA chief resigns amid N.Y. fraud lawsuit

Longtime National Rifle Association chief executive Wayne LaPierre, facing a lawsuit in New York that sought to remove him from his post, announced his resignation from the organization Friday.

LaPierre is one of four defendants in a lawsuit over alleged fraud filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat. Last week a state appeals court ruled the suit could move forward, denying a request from the NRA to end the probe.

In the lawsuit, James, who first sued the NRA in 2020, says LaPierre and others funneled millions belonging to the organization to fund inflated salaries and luxury spending, breaking state and federal laws that govern nonprofits and signing off on fraudulent reports. The lawsuit calls for the dissolution of the NRA and LaPierre’s removal from his post.

The NRA has wielded major political influence on gun issues for decades, but it has faced internal strife and external challenges in recent years, including James’ lawsuit and a related attempt to declare bankruptcy, internal politics, and allegations of financial mismanagement.

The issues intensified in 2019, when internal controversy spilled out over whether LaPierre — who at one point was revealed to have charged hundreds of thousands of dollars at a Beverly Hills clothing store and on travel — should remain in charge. That year, President Oliver North resigned after accusing the

NRA of profligate spending.

LaPierre cited health reasons in his resignation, which was accepted by the NRA board of directors at a Friday meeting, according to a news release from the organization.

In the statement, LaPierre said he would “never stop supporting the NRA.” His resignation goes into effect Jan. 31. Andrew Arulanandam, the organization’s head of general operations, will become the interim chief executive and executive vice president, the news release said.