Wayne LaPierre Steps Down From NRA Ahead of NY Civil Corruption Trial Transcript

It was once one of the most powerful political organizations in America harnessing the voices of major celebrities.

From my cold dead hands.

And striking fear in the hearts of elected officials.

Gun hating politicians should never go to bed, unafraid of what disassociation and all of our millions of members can do to their political careers.

But after decades of wielding outsized influence over the issue of gun control, the National Rifle Association is now facing the biggest crisis in its history with membership and fundraising in steep decline. The man at the helm of the NRA for more than three decades, Wayne LaPierre announcing he'll step down, effective January 31st, citing health reasons. It comes just as a civil corruption trial is set to begin. New York's Attorney General Letitia James is suing alleging LaPierre and others misspent the group's money on inflated pay, luxury travel and designer suits.

They use millions upon millions of dollars from the A for personal use, including for lavish trips for themselves and their families.

The case alleges LaPierre billed the NRA over a half million dollars for eight family private jet trips to The Bahamas. Leaked internal documents posted on the internet and reported by the Wall Street Journal, show he billed another $40,000 for a single shopping trip to a Azania Boutique in Beverly Hills. A judge denied the AGs bid to dissolve the NRA entirely so any money recovered would flow back to the group, which says it has cleaned up its financial affairs. Both the NRA and LaPierre did not respond to NBC news request, but LaPierre said in a 2020 statement that the AGs investigation is an affront to democracy and freedom. Calling it an unconstitutional premeditated attack aiming to destroy the NRA. (02:00) James, a Democrat vocal in America's partisan gun debate.

Tell those cowardly Congress members, members of the GOP, that you'll feel the pressure. You'll feel the pressure.

The legal fight and bad publicity have apparently hurt the NRA.

For a very long time, the NRA was the single loudest voice on gun policy in the country. Nobody sees the NRA as some invincible juggernaut anymore. Instead, it's an organization who you might not want to be associated with too much in public.

According to the New York Times, membership has shrunk to just over 4 million down from what the NRA reported was 6,000,00, 5 years ago, and membership dues down too by $14 million from 2021 to 2022, according to an audit filed as part of the suit, it all comes on the heels of growing troubles for the organization.

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Outrage following mass shootings led to a series of celebrity campaigns to reject the NRA.

Hi, my name is Jack Antonoff.

Sheryl Crow.

Melissa McCarthy.

Anna [inaudible 00:03:02] Smith.

Adam Scott.

And more criticism, after then, spokesperson Dana Loesch accused the media of loving mass shootings.

Crying White mothers are ratings gold.

The NRA soon finding itself the target of a boycott with major companies, including Delta, MetLife, and Hertz cutting ties. But the NRAs decline hasn't changed the politics of gun control. As mass shootings continue to rock communities across the country.

Active shooter incidents, all available units [inaudible 00:03:33].

I've never been so scared in my life.

Major gun restrictions such as a ban on assault weapons have proven impossible to enact, while an American's right to bear arms almost without restriction has become Republican Party gospel.

I was proud to be the most Pro-gun, Pro-Second Amendment president you've ever had.

Now as the NRA trial looms, onlookers, wondering if it will galvanize support or mark the beginning of a new chapter in America's Gun Debate. Ken Dilanian, NBC News, Washington.

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