US election 2020: Donald Trump attacks ‘radical left’ over bid to ban NRA

An extraordinary legal bid to dissolve the gun lobby comes as it prepares to spend millions on Trump’s re-election bid.

US President Donald Trump. Picture: Getty Images

Donald Trump has accused the “radical left” of trying to destroy the National Rifle Association, after an extraordinary legal bid by New York authorities to dissolve the powerful gun lobby.

The stunning move by the New York Attorney General comes at a time when the NRA is gearing up to spend millions to support the re-election of the president and other pro-gun Republicans.

In a lawsuit, Attorney General Letitia James calls on the NRA to be dissolved, saying its top executives illegally siphoned tens of millions of dollars to fund lavish personal trips and expenses.

“The NRA’s influence has been so powerful that the organisation went unchecked for decades while top executives funnelled millions into their own pockets,” said Ms James, who is a Democrat.

She said her 18-month investigation uncovered “a culture of self-dealing, mismanagement, and negligent oversight at the NRA that was illegal, oppressive, and fraudulent”.

Mr Trump, a strong supporter of the NRA, hit back, describing the lawsuit as a “terrible thing” and attacking his Democrat opponent Joe Biden over gun rights.

“Just like the radical left New York is trying to destroy the NRA, if Biden becomes president your GREAT SECOND AMENDMENT doesn’t have a chance. Your guns will be taken away, immediately and without notice. No police, no guns!,” he tweeted.

Just like Radical Left New York is trying to destroy the NRA, if Biden becomes President your GREAT SECOND AMENDMENT doesn’t have a chance. Your guns will be taken away, immediately and without notice. No police, no guns!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2020

The lawsuit accuses the NRA’s longtime leader Wayne LaPierre and three other senior executives of signing off on statements and documents they knew were false and diverting $US64 million for their personal benefit in just three years

It accuses the 70-year-old Mr LaPierre, the NRA’s chief executive since 1991, of a raft of offences including billing the NRA for more than $US500,000 in private charter flights to take his family to the Bahamas eight times in three years.

Mr LaPierre, without seeking board approval, allegedly set up a for himself a $US17m contract with the NRA if he were to leave the organisation.

It also accuses him of spending many millions of dollars on services such as luxury black cars, travel consultants, hair and make-up for his wife and of vastly understating his income to the IRS.

Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the NRA. Picture: AFP