NRA’s Financial Challenges

December 17th - Fox Business News - “NRA spends on foreign fundraising amid financial challenges.”

December 16th - Open Secrets.org - “Cash-strapped NRA discloses spending on foreign fundraising for first time”

“Member dues fell to their lowest level in five years in 2017, as reported by The New York Times, a year in which it lost $55 million in income. The Washington Post reported that the group had a $10.8 million shortfall in 2018 as well.” - Fox Business News

“NRA drains charities, pays for PAC - For the NRA, charity begins at home. The NRA, which is set up as 501(c)(4) social welfare nonprofit, rakes in money from its charitable affiliates while footing bills for its PAC with no sign of reimbursement. Although affiliated charities reimburse the NRA millions of dollars for various expenses, federal campaign finance records for the NRA’s Political Victory Committee show no sign of reimbursements to the NRA.” - Open Secrets  

“NRA ‘School Safety Initiative’ Was Front to Increase Fundraising” 

“In an amended counterclaim filed in Texas federal court in November, the NRA’s former ad agency—Ackerman McQueen—says that the gun lobby used School Shield as a “shell” program that it did not intend to meaningfully execute.” - Via Daily Beast on December 5th

NRATV Wanted to Become a 24/7 Newsroom Using NRA Funds: Ex-Host

ex-host Grant Stinchfield claimed in an affidavit filed last week that now-defunct NRATV streaming platform once had aspirations to be a full-fledged news operation. -The Daily Beast

“In the final 18 months, AMc representatives progressively discovered that LaPierre and his executive team, with the board’s oversight and approval, were marketing false products and narratives to NRA members, covering up sexual harassment, attempting to intimidate public officials, disrupting internal investigations about Russia, spending member money for personal benefit and more,” the ad firm further railed against NRA in a statement last month.

Newsweek - The Oklahoma-based firm, Ackerman McQueen, told Newsweek Tuesday that it would counter allegations from Grant Stinchfield, the former host of a self-titled NRATV program, with its own "legal action" against him. Ackerman claims that Stinchfield, who served as host from 2016 until July, provided "inaccurate information under oath" in an affidavit that was filed earlier this month in the NRA's federal lawsuit against the firm.

New York attorney general intensifies investigation into the NRA

“The New York attorney general's office is intensifying its investigation into the National Rifle Association, recently issuing a new, wide-ranging subpoena to the gun rights organization that offers hints at where the high-profile probe is moving, a person familiar with the document told NBC News.” - Via NBC News on December 11th

Outdoor Wire - “The questions seem to frame a simple theme: despite claims otherwise, the 76-member Board -with a few exceptions (more on that in a second)- was both ignorant and powerless. And those few exceptions followed - and continue to follow - the marching orders issued by Wayne LaPierre.”

Outdoor Wire - “As many as 90 current and former Board members have apparently been told they face possible indictments in New York. Potential charges range from breach of fiduciary duty to tax fraud.”

Wayne LaPierre’s NYTimes Interview

December 18th - NYTimes “Inside Wayne LaPierre’s Battle for the N.R.A. - 

How an internal power struggle, a New York State investigation and accusations of fraud and betrayal on all sides have left the longtime leader of the gun-rights organization reeling.”

Wayne LaPierre, “If I lose every friend,” he said, “I’m prepared to do it.”

“My attitude was, stay away from her,” LaPierre said, but he did not aggressively intervene, even as Butina coordinated a 2015 N.R.A. trip to Moscow. “I saw this itinerary that somebody had,” LaPierre recalled. “It’s got all of these meetings with this guy — what are they