New York Attorney General Letitia James is filing a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association (NRA), seeking to dissolve the organization for alleged violations on state law governing charities.
It names NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre as well as NRA executives John Frazier, Woody Phillips, and Joshua Powell as defendants. The suit is expected to be filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court this week.
The four executives allegedly “failed to fulfill their fiduciary duty to the NRA,“ adding that they ”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.”
James, meanwhile, said that she wants to see the gun lobbying group, which is chartered in New York state, to shut down.
“The NRA’s influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets,” she said. “The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse, which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA, because no organization is above the law.”
In response, the NRA stated that the lawsuit is a politically motivated attack on the organization and the Second Amendment, which ensures the right to bear arms.
The NRA’s lawsuit was filed in New York, alleging that James “made the political prosecution of the NRA a central campaign theme” when she ran for office in 2018.
President Donald Trump told reporters at White House on Aug. 6 that the lawsuit is a “terrible thing,” adding that it should move to another state such as Texas.
“This has been going on for a long time. They’ve been absolutely decimated by the cost of that lawsuit, and it’s very sad,” he said.
The NRA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.