Trump Accuses New York Attorney General Of Illegally Investigating NRA
President Donald Trump on Monday accused the New York attorney general’s office of illegally investigating the National Rifle Association and called on the group, which has been roiled by a leadership fight, to “get its act together quickly.”
“The NRA is under siege by (New York Gov. Andrew) Cuomo and the New York State A.G., who are illegally using the State’s legal apparatus to take down and destroy this very important organization, & others,” Trump wrote in a tweet. “It must get its act together quickly, stop the internal fighting, & get back to GREATNESS – FAST!”
On Saturday, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office announced in a statement it had launched an investigation into the NRA and had issued subpoenas to the organization, but did not confirm what the probe was in regard to.
The investigation comes after a dispute between the group’s president, Oliver North, and chief executive officer, Wayne LaPierre, in which North accused LaPierre of financial misconduct, including the improper use of $200,000 of NRA funds to purchase clothing from an NRA vendor, according to the Wall Street Journal.
It also comes nearly a year after James, during her campaign last summer, said she would investigate the NRA if elected to make sure it is complying with non-profit rules.
Later Monday, Cuomo, a Democrat, dismissed Trump’s claim about the probe’s legality in a statement, saying, “Unlike you, President Trump, New York is not afraid to stand up to the NRA.”
“I will continue to fight for the children of this state,” he said, noting that “gun violence is a national crisis plaguing our country and killing our children.”
And James’ office vowed Monday to “follow the facts wherever they may lead.
