NRA Leader Keeps Job As Internal Fighting & Outside Probe Threatened Group: NPR

National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre criticized from the group's board members as allegations about financial mismanagement surfaced.

Michael Conroy / AP

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Michael Conroy / AP

National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre criticized from the group's board members as allegations about financial mismanagement surfaced.

Michael Conroy / AP

The National Rifle Association's board reelected Wayne LaPierre as its executive vice president and CEO Monday, amidst turmoil within the organization.

An announcement in the American Rifleman, The official magazine of the NRA, said that LaPierre's reelection was unanimous and unopposed. Carolyn Meadows, member of the board, was selected to the next president of the group.

The public show of unity came after a dramatic weekend at the NRA's annual meeting. NRA President Oliver North announced abruptly that he would not be in the same position, and would be warned of a "crisis" at the organization of allegations of financial misconduct.

Then LaPierre was challenged at the annual membership meeting when a resolution calling for his ouster was offered. After a passionate debate by NRA members, the resolution failed.

These developments took place after numerous media reports. The drama was not unnoticed – even the president, a staunch supporter of the NRA, warned the group to get its act together.

"It must get its act together quickly, stop the internal fighting, & get back to GREATNESS – FAST!" Trump said in a tweet.

Senior leaders in the organization have pledged that they will get to the bottom of allegations of financial misconduct.

"We've got to do this right by our members because we are the voice of the members," said U.S. Rep. Allen West, Member of the Board of Directors. "And I think it's very important that we're in the business of doing it financially, and then we've gotten to report it back to the members." That's it. "

"The NRA board … has a very important fiduciary responsibility to ensure that it is accounted for," said Bob Barr, another member of the NRA's board of directors . "That's the challenge that the NRA has had, and this case is no different."

Some members had expressed hope that LaPierre would not be able to deal with allegations of financial misconduct. He has been the executive vice president of the NRA since 1991.

"I do not know a single organization in the United States that has a vice president and that it's a failure of leadership," said Ron Carter, an NRA member from Colorado Springs, Colo., who supported the resolution to oust LaPierre. "So he should absolutely step down or be removed."

The NRA has also been facing multiple investigations into its internal matters. A number of congressional committees have been sought and received from the group. And over the weekend, the New York office of the Attorney General, Letitia James, confirmed to NPR that it had launched an investigation into the NRA.

The investigation by the attorney general represents a unique threat to the organization. The NRA was chartered in New York, and the attorney general has the ability to oversee nonprofits in the state.

The president weighed in on the investigation, arguing on Twitter that the NRA "should leave and deal with this state!"

But such a move would be logistically difficult – if not impossible. And even if the NRA moved out of New York, it would still be under the general state of affairs.

"The powers of the AG," said Beth Kingsley, a lawyer who specializes in nonprofit law.

The probe by James is particularly serious because it finds that it can not be avoided by removing it from the board of directors, forcing them to repay the money wrongfully obtained – or even, in an extreme case, or an organization to cease operations or dissolve.