The NRA has filed federal suit against its charitable affiliate, the NRA Foundation, alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and misuse of about $160 million raised jointly. The complaint claims a faction of former directors seized control of the Foundation to undermine and compete with the NRA, and it cites the February 2024 civil finding that Wayne LaPierre diverted millions. The NRA seeks a D.C. federal court order to block the Foundation from implying authorization or affiliation and to halt competing fundraising and program activities.
NRA Sues Its Charitable Arm, Accusing Foundation Of Trademark Infringement, Unfair Competition And Misuse Of $160M
The lawsuit calls for a federal judge to stop the foundation from using the NRA logo, among other steps. (Luke Sharrett / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)
The National Rifle Association filed a federal lawsuit Monday against its charitable affiliate, the NRA Foundation, accusing the foundation of trademark infringement, unfair competition and misusing roughly $160 million raised jointly with the association.
In a complaint filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., the NRA says the funds were "diverted or otherwise misused" in ways that violate "the law of charitable trusts." The suit seeks to stop the Foundation from presenting itself to donors or the public as the NRA or an authorized NRA affiliate and to halt what the association describes as unfair competitive conduct.
Allegations and Internal Dispute
Attorneys for the NRA contend the Foundation "has been seized by a disgruntled faction of former NRA directors who lost control of the NRA’s Board following revelations of financial improprieties, mismanagement, and breaches of fiduciary duty and member trust." The filing asserts that this faction is attempting to regain influence through the Foundation after being, as the complaint puts it, "booted out of power by the NRA’s members."
"The Foundation intends to cut off or substantially reduce its financial support of the NRA, to sue the NRA, to take control of certain NRA programs, and to undermine the NRA’s finances and financial stability," the complaint says.
Background: The LaPierre Case
The complaint references a February 2024 civil verdict in which a jury found that former NRA executive Wayne LaPierre diverted millions of dollars from the association to support an extravagant lifestyle. That civil case was brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2020. LaPierre resigned from his leadership role at the NRA in January 2024, days before the civil trial began.
A judge later imposed a 10-year ban on LaPierre’s NRA membership. The judge declined to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the association — one of the remedies the attorney general had requested after finding the NRA liable.
What The NRA Is Asking The Court
The NRA asks a federal judge to enjoin the Foundation from actions the association calls unfair competition, including advertising or otherwise promoting an association with the NRA or using the NRA logo. The suit requests that the court prohibit conduct likely to lead donors or the public to believe the Foundation’s activities are "sponsored, endorsed, or authorized by, or associated or connected with" the NRA.
The complaint also alleges that Foundation leadership intends to withdraw grant funding to the NRA except where grants are legally restricted, to engage in fundraising that competes with the NRA, and to run programmatic activities that rival those of the association.
The NRA Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
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