National Rifle Association board member Allen West hasn’t been on board with the public-facing “all is well” approach the NRA board has taken since revelations of mismanagement, overspending and lack of control broke into public view. Following the NRA membership meeting in Indianapolis, he called for a full investigation of allegations.
Now, like the rest of us, he’s read the most recent reports published in a number of mainstream media outlets and is pushing back against characterizations of the situation by new NRA president Carolyn Meadows. He’s has published his own response on his website today.
Meadows has indicated that the board knows all about the issues revealed in the latest document dump and, in effect, everything is under control.
As she was quoted in an article in The Hill,
NRA President Carolyn Meadows told the newspaper in a statement that the “entire board is fully aware of these issues. We have full confidence in Wayne LaPierre.”
“It is troubling and pathetic that some people would resort to leaking information to advance their agendas,” she added.
West’s fiery post and comments by other board members indicate that isn’t true. Apparently not all of the board’s 76 members have been privy to the details.
This from West:
I am in my second term as a Board member, and I am deeply concerned about the actions and statements being made. The recent statements by Charles Cotton and Carolyn Meadows that are appearing in the Wall Street Journal, and now other news outlets, are outright lies. I have never been told, advised, informed or consulted about any of these details mentioned in the WSJ, and who knows how much more despicable spending of members’ money.
These statements have maliciously, recklessly and purposefully put me, and uninformed Board members, in legal jeopardy.
Regarding LaPierre continuing in his position, West writes . . .
I do not support Wayne LaPierre continuing as the EVP/CEO of the NRA. The vote in Indianapolis was by acclamation, not roll call vote. There is a cabal of cronyism operating within the NRA and that exists within the Board of Directors. It must cease, and I do not care if I draw their angst. My duty and responsibility is to the Members of the National Rifle Association, and my oath, since July 31, 1982, has been to the Constitution of the United States, not to any political party, person, or cabal.
Read the whole thing here.
It seems the old guard members such as Meadows and Cotton who were recently elevated to higher officer positions — members known to be LaPierre supporters — aren’t finding it easy to paper over the latest revelations of insider dealing, cronyism, wild and suspect spending.