According to a new report by the Washington Post, Washington D.C. Attorney General, Karl A. Racine issued subpoenas for documents, including financial records, from the National Rifle Association (NRA), as well as their foundation, as part of an investigation into whether the two organizations violated the city’s Nonprofit Act.
Racine said in a statement on Friday:
‘The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia has issued subpoenas to the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and the NRA Foundation, Inc., as part of an investigation into whether these entities violated the District’s Nonprofit Act.
‘We are seeking documents from these two nonprofits detailing, among other things, their financial records, payments to vendors and payments to officers and directors.’
Authorities have also subpoenaed documents regarding the organizations’ payments to their vendors and officers.
According to the Post,
‘Racine’s office has jurisdiction over nonprofits. It can seek court action to dissolve or place into receivership a nonprofit that misuses funds or does not act in accordance with its stated mission.
‘Racine’s subpoenas come as the organization is under mounting internal and external pressure. They are the second state legal action taken against the NRA in recent months.
‘In April, New York Attorney General Letitia James also issued subpoenas to the NRA and its foundation seeking financial records about its tax-exempt status. The NRA was chartered in New York in 1871.’
Back in April, NRA President Oliver North announced he was leaving the organization after reports that he was having problems with NRA CEO, Wayne LaPierre. Subsequently, New York’s Attorney General announced its own investigation into the NRA’s tax-exempt status.
William A. Brewer III, counsel for the NRA said in a statement:
‘The NRA has full confidence in its accounting practices and commitment to good governance.
‘the Association’s financials are audited and its tax filings are verified by one of the most reputable firms in the world. Internally, the Association has an appropriate conflict of interest policy, which provides that all potential conflicts are reviewed and scrutinized by the Audit Committee.’
It remains to be seen what will come from this investigation, but one thing is for certain — the NRA has way too much control over government agencies through campaign donations and lobbying in Washington. It’s time to reign them in.
Featured image via screenshot
