Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association (NRA), announced his resignation on Friday, just a few days before he is set to face a trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) announced today that Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre announced he is stepping down from his position as chief executive of the organization, effective January 31. Long-time NRA executive and Head of General Operations Andrew Arulanandam will become the interim CEO & EVP of the NRA,” the NRA said in a statement, which it provided to Newsweek after it reached out for comment.
“During an NRA Board of Directors meeting today in Irving, Texas, NRA President Charles Cotton reported that he accepted LaPierre’s resignation. According to the NRA, LaPierre cited health reasons as a reason for his decision.”
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LaPierre and other members of the NRA, which has argued for Second Amendment rights since 1871, are expected to appear in court on Monday, January 8, following a lawsuit brought by James, according to the New York Unified Court Systems.
In 2020, James filed a lawsuit against the NRA saying that she was seeking to dissolve the organization.
“Attorney General James charges the organization with illegal conduct because of their diversion of millions of dollars away from the charitable mission of the organization for personal use by senior leadership, awarding contracts to the financial gain of close associates and family, and appearing to dole out lucrative no-show contracts to former employees in order to buy their silence and continued loyalty,” a press release from James’ office said.
James, according to a 2020 press release from her office, alleges that LaPierre and other NRA officials “failed to fulfill their fiduciary duty to the NRA and used millions upon millions from NRA reserves for personal use, including trips for them and their families to the Bahamas, private jets, expensive meals, and other private travel.”
Former Department of Justice (DOJ) official Harry Litman responded to LaPierre’s resignation on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: “NRA honcho Wayne LaPierre resigns ahead of his NY corruption trial, charging he used NRA $ for personal use. LaPierre’s decades-long role in gun rights movement hard to overstate. Perhaps suggests he’s looking to try to settle the case.”
Litman previously served as a U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania and deputy assistant attorney general at the DOJ.
In 2022, a court in New York ruled in favor of the NRA, dismissing James’ efforts to dissolve the organization.
“I am proud of the NRA’s advocacy in New York and, through it all, determination to defend the Second Amendment. I can assure you the NRA’s mission, programming, and fight for freedom have never been more secure. What makes the NRA unlike any other advocacy organization is the depth and experience of its professional team, the unwavering support of its members, and its fighting spirit,” LaPierre said in the statement announcing his resignation.
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