N.R.A. President Oliver North Steps Down Amid “Clear Crisis” of Leadership – By Kevin Fitzpatrick (Vanity Fair) / April 27 2019
The organization’s vice president, Richard Childress, read North’s resignation aloud at the N.R.A. conference in Indianapolis.
As allegations of financial misconduct continue to mount, a dramatic scene unfolded at the National Rifle Association conference on Saturday. The organization’s president, Col. Oliver North, confirmed his intent not to seek a second term after his appointment in May 2018.
N.R.A. vice president Richard Childress read North’s resignation letter to an assembled crowd on Saturday—capping off an apparent power struggle between North and chief executive Wayne LaPierre. The organization is currently facing legal conflicts with advertising firm Ackerman McQueen, mounting opposition from gun control groups as well as ongoing threats to their tax-exempt status in New York. North called for a committee to review the N.R.A.’s finances in his resignation, describing the situation as a “clear crisis.”
“After resuming office as N.R.A. president in September of 2018, I was confronted by N.R.A. members and board members who expressed concern about the amount of money the N.R.A. was paying to the Brewer law firm,” North wrote in his resignation, claiming the situation “needs to be dealt with immediately and responsibly so the N.R.A. can continue to focus on protecting our Second Amendment.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, North had asked LaPierre to resign earlier this week. LaPierre subsequently told the N.R.A. board that North was threatening to leak damaging information, writing in a letter that North directed Ackerman McQueen to send the board “a devastating account of our financial status, sexual harassment charges against a staff member, accusations of wardrobe expenses and excessive staff travel expenses.”
The N.R.A. board is expected to convene to address the organization’s mounting challenges on Monday. The conference otherwise continues this weekend, and has already included appearances by Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump—who created headlines of his own by re-enacting the Bataclan shooting in Paris.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/04/nra-president-oliver-north-resigns
