The US National Rifle Association (NRA) has sued its own charity, the NRA Foundation, for allegedly misusing $160 million in funds.
The NRA accuses the foundation of having been taken over by a group unhappy with its directors after they lost control of the association due to mismanagement and financial irregularities.
The NRA accused the foundation of violating the Charitable Trust Act, adding that the purpose of their lawsuit was to prevent the NRA Foundation from representing itself as the NRA or an affiliate of the NRA.
The legal document filed in court accused the members of being “expelled from power” of the NRA to reclaim their authority through the foundation.
NRA lawyers added that the current legal dispute arose after foundation members attempted to position the charitable arm as a competitor to the NRA, using funds the association raised for its charitable activities, adding that “foundation leaders are attempting to undermine the financial stability of the NRA.”
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to prohibit the foundation from using the NRA logo and to stop unnecessary activities deemed to constitute unfair competition with the association.
They also asked the judge to prevent the foundation from conducting its activities in a way that people could consider it part of or authorized by the NRA.
The NRA Foundation has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
