Wayne LaPierre led the National Rifle Association for decades, digging in his heels as America’s gun violence epidemic worsened
Longtime National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre has announced that he will resign from the gun group, just days before it is scheduled to stand trial on civil corruption charges in New York.
“The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) announced today that Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre announced he is stepping down from his position as chief executive of the organization, effective January 31. Long-time NRA executive and Head of General Operations Andrew Arulanandam will become the interim CEO & EVP of the NRA,” the organization wrote in a statement on Friday.
In December, a judge ruled against the NRA’s bid to have New York Attorney General Letitia James’ probe into the organization dissolved. The trial is set to begin on Jan. 8. Among the remediations sought by James was the removal of LaPierre from his position as a chief executive of the anti-gun control organization.
Gun control activists were ecstatic. “WE DID IT!!!” wrote Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts. “NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre is forced to resign after @momsdemand shined a light on his unethical, immoral and corrupt misdeeds for over a decade. We broke the powerbroker of the most powerful, wealthy special interest that’s ever existed.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
