National Rifle Association General Counsel Caught in Group's Firestorm
A series of late April developments at the Fairfax, Virginia-based pro-gun organization have left general counsel John Frazer and his legal team dealing with an array of challenges.
May 21, 2019 at 06:24 PM
3 minute read
Internal financial and legal turmoil has gripped the National Rifle Association and its leadership over the past month, and at the center of the storm sits the general counsel office, headed by 21-year organization veteran John Frazer.
A series of late April developments at the Fairfax, Virginia-based pro-gun organization have left Frazer and his legal team dealing with an array of challenges, including:
- New York Attorney General Letitia James' investigation into the NRA's tax-exempt status.
- Fallout from the dismissal of the board of director's longtime outside counsel, Steve Hart, who has declined to comment.
- Allegations of massive legal payments to other outside counsel over the past year that threaten to weaken the group.
- A bitter lawsuit between the organization and its Oklahoma-based advertising firm of 30 years, Ackerman McQueen, which operates NRATV.
- A yearlong legal battle with New York that has escalated to other states that are challenging a weapons-carry insurance program the organization sells to its members, which has been called crucial to the group's existence.
Corporate Counsel attempted to interview Frazer about the legal issues swirling around his organization, but he did not return messages Tuesday.
The problems came to head in mid-April when a power struggle arose between chief executive Wayne LaPierre and then-president Oliver North. North warned LaPierre to resign or North would release details of alleged financial improprieties and sexual harassment charges.
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