NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre Resigns as Corruption Trial Begins

The National Rifle Association (NRA) announced in a press release today that CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre is resigning effective January 31. LaPierre announced his decision to step down during a Board of Directors meeting in Irving, Texas, where NRA President Charles Cotton accepted the resignation. The NRA press release stated LaPierre cited health concerns as a reason for his resignation.

The resignation announcement by LaPierre comes a few days before a New York State corruption trial is set to begin on Monday, where LaPierre and other NRA leaders are accused of misusing more than $64 million from NRA donors.

Despite the NRA arguing that the corruption case is a political attack by New York Attorney General Letitia James, their motion to dismiss the trial was rejected by a New York state appeals court. Jury selection began on January 2, and at trial the jury may decide if defendants will be ordered to return money, and determine if they should be removed from the organization.

The NRA has lost millions of members under LaPierre’s controversial leadership, with many former members joining other firearm rights organizations such as Gun Owners of America.

NRA executive and Head of General Operations Andrew Arulanandam is set to step in as interim CEO and EVP. LaPierre said of Arulanandam, “Andrew knows every facet of this organization and has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with me in every arena imaginable. Andrew knows how to help the NRA win — he’s been one of the key authors of our playbook for decades.”