Summary

Explosive investigative reporting by The Trace revealed that media buyers for the NRA’s purportedly independent campaign expenditures were simultaneously doing similar work on behalf of the campaigns they were supporting, including several high-profile U.S. Senate races and President Trump’s campaign.  Federal election law bars campaigns and independent groups from coordinating their spending.

This reporting includes the following articles:

1. “The Mystery Firm that Has Become the NRA’s Top Election Consultant” (7/13/2018)
2. “Despite FEC Complaint, the NRA is Still Using a Mystery Firm” (9/10/2018)
3. “Documents Point to Illegal Campaign Coordination Between Trump and NRA” (12/6/2018)

Subsequent to the reporting by The Trace, at least five complaints were filed with the Federal Election Commission by the Campaign Legal Center and/or Giffords against the NRA alleging improper coordination of campaign spending.  These complaints were followed, in April 2019 by a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to force the Federal Election Commission to investigate the initial complaints.  In the fall of 2021, the Judge overseeing the case ruled in favor of Giffords, granting them the ability to sue the NRA directly.

In November 2021, Giffords filed its lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the NRA, and the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. That litigation is ongoing.