AG James Seeks To Dissolve National Rifle Association [POLL]

NEW YORK — In a major announcement Thursday, New York Attorney General Letitia James said the state was filing a lawsuit to dissolve the National Rifle Association. She charged 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."

The suit charged the NRA as a whole and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, as well as a former chief of staff and a general counsel.

James said they failed to manage the NRA's funds and failed to follow state and federal laws, which contributed to the loss of more than $64 million in three years for the organization.

She said the NRA's influence has been so powerful that it went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions of dollars into their own pockets.

"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," James said.

In addition to dissolving the organization, the lawsuit seeks to remove LaPierre and make him and other current and former executives pay back illegal profits, NPR reported.

One thing James's investigation uncovered, according to the Washington Post, was that LaPierre arranged a $17 million post-employment contract for himself, without board approval.

In response to the lawsuit, the NRA called the action "a baseless, premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Administration freedom it fights to defend."

The organization filed a lawsuit against James that said she has "weaponized its regulatory and legal powers to harm a political adversary.

"We not only will not shrink from this fight — we will confront it and prevail," said NRA President Carolyn Meadows.

President Donald Trump, who has been a supporter of the NRA and received its endorsement for president, weighed in on the issue, calling it "terrible."

He suggested the NRA move to Texas, where it can "lead a very good and beautiful life," The Hill reported.

In response to the counter lawsuit and the president's relocation recommendation, James said people should be reminded that "we shut down the president's own foundation, recouped millions in diverted funds after unearthing the illegal use of charitable funds, and directed those funds to lawful organizations for legitimate charitable purposes."

She said the state intends to do the same with the NRA, adding that no charity registered in the state can relocate without the approval of the AG's office or the state Supreme Court.

Now it's your turn to weigh in on the issue. Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us what you think in the comments.