National Rifle Association Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre resigned from the organization Friday, merely three days before the troubled leader is scheduled to face a corruption trial in New York.
He, alongside other former NRA officials, stands accused of misappropriating funds from the non-profit to bankroll their lavish lifestyles. This included private jets, luxury vacations, and, expensive dining. LaPierre has denied these allegations.
In a statement attained by NPR on Friday, NRA President Charles Cotton said LaPierre, who is 74, is resigning due to health reasons. The gun group says it will continue to defend itself in the lawsuit brought by New York State.
"With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA," LaPierre said. "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," Politico announced.
LaPierre, who has served as chief executive since 1991, is facing charges brought against the NRA by New York Attorney General Letitia James. He is among four defendants in the case and is expected to testify in the trial before Justice Joel Cohen of the state Supreme Court.
Under the Wayne LaPierre epoch, the NRA stood as the country's largest and most powerful gun organization. LaPierre helped build the NRA into a political powerhouse, He has led multiple campaigns in Washington and statehouses to expand gun rights under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He successfully fought off repeated attempts at gun control even amidst the number of escalating mass shootings across the nation. However, despite this information, the organization has been under heavy scrutiny in the last few years.
James revealed in a statement to Reuters, "The end of the Wayne LaPierre era at the NRA is an important victory in our case. LaPierre's resignation validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him from accountability."
Reuters also reported that NRA counsel William Brewer also said the NRA was "prepared and ready."
"The NRA will defend its governance programs and its substantial efforts in support of the freedoms it fights to defend," Brewer said in a statement.
What Has Happened To The NRA's Membership?
According to Reuters, Revenue has slid 44% since 2016, as membership has slumped in recent years. Once as high as 5.5 million, membership was down to 4.2 million in September 2021, said former NRA board member Phil Journey, who said the board was briefed on membership.
"We were shedding 1,000 members a day, net, at that time. It's probably less than 4 million now," said Journey, who was left off the board last year after he cast the lone vote against reappointing LaPierre.
But in the face of legal and financial troubles, LaPierre was easily re-elected last year by the 76-member board.
The trial is set for a Manhattan courtroom on Monday and will proceed without delay.
Andrew Arulanandam, previously the organization's head of general operations, will take over for LaPierre as interim CEO and executive vice president.
