It was announced this week that New York’s attorney general is filing a lawsuit against the National Rifle Association over fraud and says they should close. It is a case that was part of an 18-month investigation into the group of lobby guns being revealed “fraudulent with fraud and abuse.” Now the NRA is getting involved in trying to convince the public that they are still relevant.
Bloomberg reported Friday that costly spending on clothing for the group’s CEO, internal disputes, and questions about foreign donations are all crashing in time for the 2020 election. After spending millions to oust President Donald Trump choosing, the NRA is now struggling with its credibility.
“The timing of the lawsuits is unusual,” the report said. “With the presidential and congressional elections scheduled for November, the nonprofit faces a variety of challenges to raise money and cover assembly of legal expenses. And its years-long leadership is being attacked by New York State.”
Republicans who accept money from the group can raise questions about corruption and illegal behavior at a time when the GOP is struggling with what seats it has.
“It will reduce their direct impact because they have to be in defensive mode,” said Daniel Kurtz, a lawyer representing nonprofit groups.
Bloomberg explained that GOP politicians, from Trump the whole vote below, have a lot to lose in this election. “In the last election, the Republican Party benefited when the NRA set up its base, got people to the ballot box and funded its campaigns,” the report said.
The group has pivoted from defending the GOP to defending them amid legal battles, and told supporters they are under attack by New York. They have already tried to file Attorney General Letitia James in federal court, saying they are trying to violate their rights to First Amendment. However, the First Amendment does not address the right to commit fraud, so it is unclear how successful the countermeasure will be.
“The NRA also accused James in the lawsuit of collaborating with Everytown for Gun Safety,” the report said. “Carolyn Meadows, the president of the NRA, called James’ suit a baseless, proposed attack on the Second Amendment that was time to have maximum impact during the election cycle.”
“You could set your watch through it: the investigation would reach its crescendo if we move on to the 2020 election cycle,” she said. “It is a transparent attempt to score political points and attack the leading voice as opposed to the left-wing agenda.”
The Center for Responsive Politics says the NRA has spent just over $ 900,000 before the election and has reserved about $ 3.6 million in advertising. It’s a far cry from the $ 419 million the group spent in 2016.
Read the full report on Bloomberg News.
