John Frazer, general counsel and secretary of National Rifle Association. Courtesy photo.

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.

Instead, the board backed LaPierre and ousted North on April 29, along with its outside counsel, Hart.

North then released documents highlighting the group's legal challenges and growing legal bills.

The lawsuit against Ackerman McQueen claims the ad firm has refused to document its expenses. Ackerman issued a statement disputing the suit's claims.

Among other things the suit alleges that North was also working for the ad firm and double dipping. The suit says the ad firm allowed Frazer to see a copy of its contract with North but would not let him make a copy. The suit claims Frazer's viewing raised concerns that the organization had not been given an accurate summary of North's relationship with the ad firm.

According to his organization bio, Fraser joined the group in 1993 as an information specialist for the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, and he rose through the ranks to director of research and information in 2007.

After completing law school at night at George Mason University, he left the organization in 2013 to open his own law firm. He returned to the group in January 2015 as its general counsel and four months later was also named secretary to the board.

Frazer was reelected general counsel and secretary at the April 29 annual meeting, the same meeting that reelected LaPierre as chief executive and ousted North.