NRA President Oliver North resigns as infighting strikes down gun rights group

A controversial public fight within the National Rifle Association broke out Saturday with the organization's president, retired Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver North, who announced that he would not be coming back for a second term.

North had plans to make an appearance at the National Convention of the organization in Indianapolis this weekend, but instead of attending, Richard Childress, one of the current vice presidents of the NRA, read a letter on his behalf.

"Please note that I was hoping to be with you today as Acting President approved for reelection." It is now reported that this will not happen, "read Childress in a room. of conference filled with members of the ARN. "I have been a board member of the NRA for over two decades, it has been a great privilege to serve your president this year."

North's departure comes in a fierce battle with Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's long-time president and CEO and spiritual leader. North would have asked LaPierre to resign from his post earlier this week, with the organization facing challenges related to fundraising and its status of non-profit organizations, reported New York Times.

Organizational spending for the 2016 elections, including the $ 36 million to help Trump, prompted regulators of the New York State, based on its charter, to threaten the state of affairs. investigate his status as a non-profit organization.

North told the organization's management that he had created a committee to investigate any financial irregularities committed by the organization, the Times reported. North also sent the council a letter containing allegations that LePierre had charged a seller more than $ 200,000 for wardrobe purchases, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In response, LePierre sent a letter to the NRA's board of directors alleging that he was extorted and pressured by North, who threatened to disclose "damaging" information about him. He was not resigning, according to the newspaper. LaPierre said he refused and called council members to "see this for what it is: a threat designed to intimidate and divide us."

The dispute between the NRA's two titans was triggered in part after the organization filed a lawsuit against advertising firm Ackerman McQueen, alleging that the agency was not transparent with the way in which it used the media. NRA funds, according to the newspaper. The NRA paid $ 42.6 million to Ackerman McQueen in 2017, making it the largest supplier of the group, the newspaper reported.

The lawsuit is also related to an impending investigation by New York State regulators seeking to re-examine ANR's tax-exempt status as an object to non-profit.

North, who accepted an "employee position" with Ackerman McQueen, said the complaint had been filed without notice to the board, according to the letter read by Childress.

LaPierre alleged that North had "contractual and financial loyalties" to Ackerman McQueen and thus protected them, according to the Journal.

North, a central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal, was chosen last year to be the president of the NRA and his term will end on Monday.

The 76-member NRA Board will face urgent decisions at its Monday meeting.