Wayne LaPierre, the longstanding leader of the National Rifle Association (NRA) announced his resignation on Friday, just days before the beginning of a civil trial in New York that would examine his leadership of the powerful gun rights organization.
LaPierre, who has served as as NRA’s CEO since 1991, will stand down, effective from January 31. As announced by the company, Andrew Arulanandam will take on the role of acting CEO and EVP.
“With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA,” LaPierre said in a statement. “I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”
The trial against the NRA, LaPierre, and other former organization leaders was initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James and is set to begin on Monday in Manhattan.
James accused LaPierre and other officials with unlawfully taking tens of millions of dollars away from the NRA and using those monies for personal travel, non-show contracts, and other dubious expenses. She thus requested that LaPierre and the other executives be barred from acting in the leadership of any not-for-profit or charity organization doing business in New York, thus removing them from any association with the NRA.
