New York Attorney General Moves To Dissolve The NRA After Fraud Investigation

[ZiprHead]

https://www.npr.org/2020/08/06/899712823/new-york-attorney-general-moves-to-dissolve-the-nra-after-fraud-investigation?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&fbclid=IwAR1IGMWv_zZYkJpgwaQFKkXIRmHAPRzSmrnf4uk_dPCsMJ8Fm-Qqd8CyqJI

The Attorney General of New York took action today to dissolve the National Rifle Association, following an 18-month investigation that found evidence the powerful gun rights group is "fraught with fraud and abuse."

Attorney General Letitia James claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday that she found financial misconduct in the millions of dollars, and that it contributed to a loss of more than $64 million over a three year period.

The suit alleges that top NRA executives misused charitable funds for personal gain, awarded contracts to friends and family members, and provided contracts to former employees to ensure loyalty.

Seeking to dissolve the NRA is the most aggressive sanction James could have sought against the not-for-profit organization, which James has jurisdiction over because it is registered in New York. James has a wide range of authorities relating to nonprofits in the state, including the authority to force organizations to cease operations or dissolve. The NRA is all but certain to contest it.

NPR has reached out to the NRA for comment, but has not received a response.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

And watch (presumably) a bunch of defrauded NRA members demand vengeance... against the Attorney General.

 

[Toni]

1. About bloody time.

Unfortunately this is also true:

2. This will be a rallying point for Trumpsters. It could win Trump the election.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

This is going to feed into conservolibertarian victimhood messaging. It's essentially free ads for NRA funding and Republican politicians. Plus, now I will have to read on my facebook feed how radical socialist Democrats are removing free speech from conservatives in order to implement Hitler.

If you want to dismantle the NRA, just make them pay partially back all people who were defrauded 'til they are bankrupt. Except Russia, don't pay back Russia. And then keep covering specific stories of John Q Citizen who lost $1000, only got back $5, LaPierre's private jet, and how Russians aren't being paid back.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The NRA is most likely bankrupt and can't pay anyone back. The NRA leadership defrauded its membership, and they'll look like the victims to those they scammed.

It'd be like the Sierra Club leadership spending tens of millions on bald eagle stuffed beds, and their membership demanding justice... for the the leadership and damn the investigators.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

This is going to feed into conservolibertarian victimhood messaging. It's essentially free ads for NRA funding and Republican politicians. Plus, now I will have to read on my facebook feed how radical socialist Democrats are removing free speech from conservatives in order to implement Hitler.

If you want to dismantle the NRA, just make them pay partially back all people who were defrauded 'til they are bankrupt. Except Russia, don't pay back Russia. And then keep covering specific stories of John Q Citizen who lost $1000, only got back $5, LaPierre's private jet, and how Russians aren't being paid back.

Yup. Disbanding is the wrong answer. Just hold them accountable for the fraud.

 

[TSwizzle]

Four more years it is then.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

This is going to feed into conservolibertarian victimhood messaging. It's essentially free ads for NRA funding and Republican politicians. Plus, now I will have to read on my facebook feed how radical socialist Democrats are removing free speech from conservatives in order to implement Hitler.

If you want to dismantle the NRA, just make them pay partially back all people who were defrauded 'til they are bankrupt. Except Russia, don't pay back Russia. And then keep covering specific stories of John Q Citizen who lost $1000, only got back $5, LaPierre's private jet, and how Russians aren't being paid back.

Yup. Disbanding is the wrong answer. Just hold them accountable for the fraud.

Can can you hold a bankrupt "charity" accountable?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Four more years it is then.

The lawsuit also claims that LaPierre received more than $1.2 million in expense reimbursements over four years, including gifts for friends, travel expenses and memberships at golf clubs and hotels.

Yup, LaPierre is the victim here. He helped bankrupt the NRA, but he is the victim.

 

[Patooka]

Four more years it is then.

I love how you can mention "Non profit organization is being investigated for fraud", and even Trump supporters think Donald is involved somehow.

But seriously, a group that thought Oliver fucking North would be a good public image for them is shown to be corrupt? That's the type of right wing hypocrisy we took for granted even in The Before Times of pre-2020. Nevertheless, fuck 'em. They're in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

This is going to feed into conservolibertarian victimhood messaging. It's essentially free ads for NRA funding and Republican politicians. Plus, now I will have to read on my facebook feed how radical socialist Democrats are removing free speech from conservatives in order to implement Hitler.

If you want to dismantle the NRA, just make them pay partially back all people who were defrauded 'til they are bankrupt. Except Russia, don't pay back Russia. And then keep covering specific stories of John Q Citizen who lost $1000, only got back $5, LaPierre's private jet, and how Russians aren't being paid back.

Yup. Disbanding is the wrong answer. Just hold them accountable for the fraud.

Can can you hold a bankrupt "charity" accountable?

Yeah, they're not going to be able to pay the bill. Seize whatever they raise until it's paid.

Of course it will have the same effect as disbanding them, but without giving the right as much ammo.

 

[Jarhyn]

Can can you hold a bankrupt "charity" accountable?

Yeah, they're not going to be able to pay the bill. Seize whatever they raise until it's paid.

Of course it will have the same effect as disbanding them, but without giving the right as much ammo.

I call this "the postal strategy"

Let's see how they like it turned on them, bit with a bill they actually earned for themselces

 

[Coleman Smith]

The NRA is not going away.

If they get thrown out of NY they will just move to Georgia or Texas.

 

[Patooka]

The NRA is not going away.

If they get thrown out of NY they will just move to Georgia or Texas.

Perhaps, however:

Simultaneously, the Washington, DC, Attorney-General sued the NRA Foundation, a charitable arm of the organisation designed to provide programs for firearm safety, marksmanship and hunting safety, accusing it of diverting funds to the NRA to help pay for lavish spending by its top executives.

The argument can be made that wherever they move to, they'll be viewed with well deserved skepticism. I also wonder if Ackerman McQueen will rear their head again.

 

[James Brown]

Is it possible to be pro-2nd Amendment and anti-theft-and-corruption?

 

[Harry Bosch]

The NRA is most likely bankrupt and can't pay anyone back. The NRA leadership defrauded its membership, and they'll look like the victims to those they scammed.

It'd be like the Sierra Club leadership spending tens of millions on bald eagle stuffed beds, and their membership demanding justice... for the the leadership and damn the investigators.

Very true. It's ironic as gun sales has exploded recently due to fears over defunding the police.

 

[Jason Harvestdancer]

If she somehow succeeds, they might get replaced with an ACTUAL gun rights group.