NRA Was 'Foreign Asset' To Russia Ahead of 2016, New Senate Report Reveals

[TomSea]

opb.org
NRA Was 'Foreign Asset' To Russia Ahead of 2016, New Senate Report Reveals
Tim Mak

Michael Conroy, AP

The National Rifle Association acted as a “foreign asset” for Russia in the period leading up to the 2016 election, according to a new investigation unveiled Friday by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon.

Drawing on contemporaneous emails and private interviews, an 18-month probe by the Senate Finance Committee’s Democratic staff found that the NRA underwrote political access for Russian nationals Maria Butina and Alexander Torshin more than previously known — even though the two had declared their ties to the Kremlin.

The report also describes how closely the gun rights group was involved with organizing a 2015 visit by some of its leaders to Moscow.

Then-NRA vice president Pete Brownell, who would later become NRA president, was enticed to visit Russia with the promise of personal business opportunities — and the NRA covered a portion of the trip’s costs.

The conclusions of the Senate investigation could have legal implications for the NRA, Wyden says.

Read more at: https://www.opb.org/news/article/npr-nra-was-foreign-asset-to-russia-ahead-of-2016-new-senate-report-reveals/

These articles came out and I did not see it posted anywhere.

Even if they call them a "foreign asset", it seems this mainly means they will be taxed differently. As of now, they are a "tax exempt organization". Tempest in a teacup to me really.

[txradioguy]

NRA already has a statement out on this. 

William A. Brewer III, counsel to the NRA: “This report promotes a politically motivated and contrived narrative. An avalanche of proof confirms that the NRA, as an organization, was never involved in the activities about which the Democrats write. This report goes to great lengths to try to involve the NRA in activities of private individuals and create the false impression that the NRA did not act appropriately. Nothing could be further from the truth. As noted by the committee Republicans in their rebuttal, this report is a transparent effort to justify yet another ‘fishing expedition’ into the NRA.”

Andrew Arulanandam, NRA managing director of Public Affairs, speaking of a 2015 trip to Russia: “Certain NRA members made the trip of their own accord. The record reflects it was not an official NRA trip. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre was opposed to it and, at his directive, no NRA staff members or employees attended.”

https://www.ammoland.com/2019/09/nra-statement-on-politically-motivated-senate-finance-report/

[verga]

BKMK

[jmyrlefuller]

“Certain NRA members made the trip of their own accord. The record reflects it was not an official NRA trip. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre was opposed to it and, at his directive, no NRA staff members or employees attended.”

So basically, with this defense, they've just confirmed LaPierre controls the NRA singlehandedly.

[txradioguy]

So basically, with this defense, they've just confirmed LaPierre controls the NRA singlehandedly.

Yup...confirms what most of us already knew.