The Loadout Blog

News|Industry News

By Drew Bryant
January 6th, 2023, theloadoutblog.com

Embattled and controversial Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association (NRA), is resigning at the end of January. LaPierre’s resignation is days before a looming civil trial in New York that is aimed at exploring misconduct allegations and the misappropriation of NRA funds for his enrichment, according to court documents.

Yesterday, the NRA released a short statement from the embattled LaPierre via X, in which he states: “I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend second amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”

During LaPierre’s thirty reign as the leader of the NRA, membership numbers have dwindled during his tenure, especially over the last five to ten years. Membership has collapsed due to the ineffectiveness of the NRA to protect and defend Americans’ Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. Also, during his tenure, there were rumors of rampant corruption and financial irregularities by other prominent members of the NRA, which were never thoroughly investigated.

LaPierre’s resignation is effective on January 31st. Since 1991, he has held the position of leadership within the NRA. The NRA announced that Andrew Arulanandam, the head of NRA’s general operations, is set to become interim chief executive and vice president.

Andrew Arulanandam, head of NRA’s general operations, is slated to assume the roles of interim chief executive and vice president, per the NRA’s announcement. LaPierre cites health for his resignation from the top spot at the NRA, and coincidentally, his departure is days before his civil trial in New York. This trial will thoroughly investigate his leadership and accusations of financial mismanagement and corruption.

The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Leticia James accuses Mr. LaPierre and other board members of illegally diverting tens of millions of dollars from the non-profit and spending the cash on personal trips, “no-show” contracts, and other suspicious expenditures.

The trial starts on Monday in Manhattan, where LaPierre is poised to be one of the key witnesses. AG James is pursuing to ban Mr. LaPierre and other top executives from working in a leadership capacity for any non-profit conducting business in New York State, effectively removing them from any involvement within the NRA. When discussing the lawsuit, LaPierre states: “There are individuals and officers who are using the NRA as their piggy bank, and they need to be held accountable.”

In 2020, news was reported how cracks began to emerge as members and influential donors were concerned about fiscal responsibility and spending, management, and the organization’s day-to-day operations. AG James discussed these concerns in the 168-page lawsuit against Wayne LaPierre and others. The lawsuit highlighted the interworkings of the organization in which it alleges dissent was not tolerated, that spending was not disclosed or approved by the proper channels, and that oversight was pretty much non-existent.

The lawsuit also claims that “Brazen illegality” was rife within the higher echelons of power within the NRA. Mr. LaPierre used massive amounts of the organization’s funds for personal travel, including flights for family and associates, when he was not on board. One flight cost the NRA $15,000 to fly his niece’s husband from a Hunting Convention in Las Vegas to Nebraska. The filing also indicates that LaPierre will be paid $1 million a year after he retires from the NRA. This condition is referenced in a post contract that was neither reviewed nor approved by the NRA’s board, any committee, or disclosed to the membership, the lawsuit states.

Moving forward to January of 2021, NRA attempted to file for bankruptcy. A federal Judge in Texas dismissed the case four months later, ruling it was not filed in good faith. Federal Judge Harlan Hale writes, “The court believes the NRA’s purpose … is less like a traditional bankruptcy case in which a debtor is faced with financial difficulties or a judgment that it cannot satisfy, and more like cases in which courts have found bankruptcy was filed to gain an unfair advantage in litigation or to avoid a regulatory scheme,” in the written order to dismiss the bankruptcy case.

Even with Wayne LaPierre’s resignation at the end of January, it leaves many questions unresolved before the court. It does not solve the persistent corruption, fiscal waste, and mismanagement of the organization. Hopefully, the court case will provide answers to the corruption and colossal mismanagement of one the most important and prominent constitutional amendment organizations in America.