The Association

Yesterday, the New York Attorney General filed suit to dissolve the National Rifle Association, asserting that it was so corrupted by self-dealing and misspending that it could no longer function as a nonprofit (details here and here).

The suit charges in part that four principal NRA executives diverted $64 million in organization funds over three years to pay lavish benefits to themselves.

While this lawsuit will be no easy battle, if successful, it will remove one of the most politically toxic organizations in America. The NRA has heavily funded Republican politicians ever since it became involved in political spending.

Although the organization is focused primarily on firearms issues, by funding conservatives, it has given them an outsize advantage and thus they can attack unrelated issues like LGBT rights, voting rights, progressive legislation, and much more.

While the suit filed yesterday is civil, the New York Attorney General is not ruling out possible criminal action in the future.

This will definitely be an issue to watch. Stay tuned.