On February 6th, 2020, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) released a report detailing the NRA’s “record of abuse,” “self-dealing,” and “outrageous spending.” 

First reported by Newsweek, Rep. Schneider’s report follows months of investigative reporting about the NRA’s alleged self-dealing and questionable financial practices. Among other issues detailed in Rep. Scheinder’s report: NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre faces scrutiny for allegedly billing the NRA’s then-ad agency, Ackerman McQueen, more than $240,000 in travel to Italy, Hungary, the Bahamas and other destinations; allegedly using an Ackerman McQueen credit card to spend nearly $275,000 on luxury clothing, including $40,000 in one day; and reportedly seeking Ackerman McQueen’s help in a failed scheme in which the NRA promised $6.5 million for a luxury mansion for LaPierre after the Parkland shooting. Additionally, 18 unpaid members of the NRA’s board have reportedly collected millions of dollars in aggregate from the organization between 2016 and 2018 alone––despite reports that the NRA ran a deficit for each of those years.

Such practices have led to legal trouble for the NRA and its affiliated entities: New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting an investigation into whether the NRA violated New York’s charities, law, that some experts have even opined could lead to a criminal investigation and referral of Wayne LaPierre, DC Attorney General Karl Racine is investigating the NRA for suspected violations of nonprofit law, and the organization is locked in various lawsuits with Ackerman McQueen. The NRA also faces charges in New York State by the Department of Financial Services over its “Carry Guard” insurance product and a U.S. Senate investigation of allegations of self-dealing.