New York Attorney General Investigation

April 25, 2019 letter from LaPierre to NRA Board (Exhibit 11 to 8/18 AG MOL)

August 18, 2019

Filing Summary

This exhibit is a letter from LaPierre to the NRA board outlining an alleged attempt by Oliver North to extort LaPierre. According to LaPierre, North called one of LaPierre’s most senior staff members threatening to reveal a damaging letter about LaPierre unless he resigned. LaPierre also alleges that North offered him an “excellent retirement” if LaPierre supported North in his re-election bid for presidency.

Key Points

  • LaPierre claims that on April 24, 2019, North called Millie Hallow, “one of [LaPierre’s] most senior staff members” to extort him. (Pg. 2.).  He claims that North, under the advice of another NRA board member, threatened to transmit an “allegedly damaging letter to the entire NRA Board” unless LaPierre resigned as Executive Vice President of the NRA. (Pg. 2.) The letter “would contain a devastating account of our financial status, sexual harassment charges against a staff member, accusations of wardrobe expenses and excessive staff travel expenses.” (Pg. 3.)
  • LaPierre also claims that North offered to “‘negotiate’ an ‘excellent retirement’” for LaPierre if LaPierre supported North’s re-election as president. (Pg. 3.)
  • LaPierre claims that the NRA’s “steps to strengthen its effort to document and verify compliance by our vendors with our purchasing practices and their contracts” has been met with “extraordinary resistance” from Ackerman. LaPierre suggests that North is acting out of “contractual and financial loyalties to [Ackerman.]”  He points to North’s contract with Ackerman to create the documentary series “American Heroes.” (Pg. 2.)