CHUCK IOWA, CHAIRMAN MIKE CRAPO, IDAHO RON WVDEN FAT ROBERTS, KANSAS DLBBIE a. WYOMING MARIA CANTWFI I . WASHING ION JOHN CORWN TEXAS ROBERT NEW JERSEY Jaw THONE, SOUTH THOMAS CAF a. . RICHARD BURR, NORTH CAROI INA BI NJAMIN MAHYI AND JOHNNY ISAKSON, GEORGIA SHERROO BROWN OHIO "ltt . tattg [nat? ROB PORTMAN, OHIO E. awry, COL ORAOO (N J. TOOMEY, ROBERT P. CASEY II: SCOT MARK R. WARNU VIRGNIA COMMITTEE ON FINANCE BILL CASSIDY, LOUISIANA SHEI DON ISLAND JAMES LAMKFORO, OKI AROMA SFEVE OAINEs, MONTANA CATHERINE MASTO, NEVADA WASHINGTON, DC 20510?6200 ODD VOLNG, INDIANA KOLAN DAVIS DIRECTOR AND JOSHUA DEMOCRATIC I CR May 3, 2019 Lieutenant Colonel Oliver N01th Founder Honorary Chairman Freedom Alliance 22570 Markey Court, STE 240 Dulles, Virginia 20166 Dear Lieutenant Colonel North: We are writing to request information related to public statements you recently made alleging ?nancial improprieties at the National Rifle Association that could jeopardize the organization?s nonpro?t status. Given your experience as the president, we believe you are uniquely suited to shed light on any potential improper activity within the organization or any of its vendors. On April 26, 2019, the New York Times reponed that you sought the resignation of Wayne LaPierre, Chief Executive and Executive Vice President of the NRA, over alleged misconduct.l According to a statement read by Richard Childress on your behalf at the 2019 annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, you also created an Crisis Management Committee? and issued a memo to the NRA Executive Committee on April 25, 2019 outlining your allegations.2 Reporting by the Wall Street Journal indicates that you sent at least one additional letter to the NRA Executive Committee detailing allegations that included excessive staff wardrobe and travel expenses.3 The Senate Finance Committee is charged with administration of matters relating to taxation, including oversight of tax-exempt organizations. Therefore, we request you provide the following: 1. Any letters you wrote to the NRA Board of Directors or NRA Executive Committee outlining your allegations of misconduct and any underlying supporting documentation. 2. The April 25, 2019 memo you provided to the NRA Executive Committee and any supporting documentation. 3. Any internal or third party audits, reviews, or investigations conducted by or for the Crisis Management Committee? that you created and any supporting documentation. 4. Any findings, reports, or other conclusory materials produced by or for the Crisis Management Committee related to alleged financial misconduct or the nonprofit status and any supporting documentation. 1 New York Times, Insurgents Seek to Oust Wayne LaPierre in NRA. Power Struggle, April 26, 2019; 2 YouTube, Richard Childress Remarks, published April 27, 2019; 3 Wayne LaPierre Says He Is Being Extorted, Pressured to Resign, April 26, 2019; Requested materials and any materials reasonably related to the requested materials should not be destroyed, altered, or otherwise made inaccessible to the Committee. Please provide these materials no later than May 16, 2019. If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact Finance Committee Democratic staff at (202) 224-4515. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, Ron Wyden heldon ?hitehouse .. Robert Menendez Ranking Member United States Senator United States Senator CHUCK (ERASSLEY, CHAIRMAN CRAPO, IDAHO RON PAT ROBERTS. KANSAS DEBBIE STABENOW, MICHIGAN MARIA CAMTWEII JOHN COPNYN. TFXAS ROBLHT MENENCLZ NEW JOHN DAKOTA R. (Aim I: OH AWAHI I BURR, MAWIAND 1 GEORGIA OHIO F: ROB PDRIMAN, OHIO DEW: I. COLOHAIJII PATRICK HOBLRT P. w. A SCOIT, sourii MARK R. WARW ac NIA COMMITTEE ON FINANCE CASSIDY. LOUISIANA SHELDON wen? ,vsr; RHon AND JAMES I ANKFORI), MAGGIE. L?Assm STEVE DALNES, MONTANA CATHERINE \iAsro, N: WASHINGTON, DC 20510-6200 TODD YOUNG, KOIAN DAVES EIAFF (370"! AND DEMOCRATIC STAFF May 3, 2019 Wayne LaPierre Chief Executive and Executive Vice President National Ri?e Association of America 11250 Waples Mill Road Fairfax, VA 22030 Dear Mr. LaPierre: We are writing to request information related to public statements retired Lieutenant Colonel and former National Ri?e Association President Oliver North recently made alleging ?nancial improprieties at the NRA that could jeopardize the organization?s nonpro?t status. As the Chief Executive and Executive Vice President, we believe you are uniquely suited to shed light on any potential improper activity within the organization or any of its vendors. On April 26, 2019, the New York Times reported that Col. North sought your resignation from the NRA over allegations of ?nancial misconduct.1 According to a statement read by Richard Childress on Col. North?s behalf at the 2019 annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, Co]. North created an Crisis Management Committee? and issued a memo to the NRA Executive Committee on April 25, 2019 outlining his allegations.2 In an April 25, 2019 letter addressed to the NRA Board, you wrote, ?[North?s] letter would contain a devastating account of our ?nancial status, sexual harassment charges against a staff member, accusations of wardrobe expenses and excessive staff travel expenses.? The Senate Finance Committee is charged with administration of matters relating to taxation, including oversight of tax-exempt organizations. Therefore, we request you provide the following: 1. A copy of the April 25, 2019 letter you submitted to the NRA Board of Directors and any related documentation, memos, or other supporting materials. 2. The April 25, 2019 memo Co]. North provided to the NRA Executive Committee and any other letters or memos he provided to the NRA Board of Directors or the NRA Executive Committee related to allegations of ?nancial misconduct or the organization?s nonpro?t status, and supporting materials. 3. Any internal or third party audits, reviews, or investigations conducted by or for the Crisis Management Committee.? 4. Any ?ndings, reports, or other conclusory materials produced by or for the Crisis Management Committee or any other NRA Committee related to alleged ?nancial misconduct or the nonpro?t status. 1 New York Times, Insurgents Seek to Dust Wayne LaPierre in N.R.A. Power Struggle, April 26, 2019; 2 YouTube, Richard Childress Remarks, published April 27, 2019; 3 Wayne LaPierre letter to the NRA Board, April 25, 2019; Requested materials and any materials reasonably related to the requested materials should not be destroyed, altered, or otherwise made inaccessible to the Committee. Please provide these materials no later than May 16, 2019. If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact Finance Committee staff at (202) 224?45 15. ..- Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, Baa/W Ron Wyden Robert Menendez Ranking Member United States Senator United States Senator heldon hitehouse CHUCK GRASSLEY. IOWA, CHAIRMAN MIKE CRAPO, IDAHO HON WYDEN PAT ROBERTS, KANSAS DEBBIE MICHIOAN MICHAEL B. ENZI, WYOMING MARIA CANT wr: ?r?iAsHthi I ON JOHN TEXAS ROHERT JOHN THUNE, sorzTII DAKOTA INOMAS R. P- 2): name: RICHARD BURR, NORTH BENJAMIN L. cw MARYLAND em . "ltt tattg ?Enatz eon PORTMAN, OHIO MICHAH ROBLHT P. I. TEM SCOTT, sorng CAROLINA MARKR If? BILL IgAssIOv, I ennui ISIAND COMMITTEE ON FINAN JAMES LANKFORD, OKLAHOMA HAss-m ., DAINEs, MONTANA CATHERINE con wtsro, NEVADA WASHINGTON, Db 20510?3200 1 ODD VOUNG, INDIANA KOLAN DAVIS I AFF DIRECTOR AND JOSHUA SHEINKMAN DEMOCRATIC IJIBLCTOH May 3, 2019 Revan McQueen Chief Executive Of?cer Ackerman McQueen 1601 Northwest Expressway, STE 1 100 Oklahoma City, OK 731 18 Dear Mr. McQueen: We are writing to request information related to public statements retired Lieutenant Colonel and former National Ri?e Association President Oliver North recently made alleging ?nancial improprieties at the NRA that could jeopardize the organization?s nonpro?t status. As the CEO of the largest vendor and the company?according to NRA Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre?that authored documents detailing those allegations, we believe you are uniquely suited to shed light on any potential illegal activity within the organization. On April 26, 2019, the New York Times reported that Col. North sought Mr. LaPierre?s resignation from the NRA over allegations of ?nancial misconduct.? In an April 25, 2019 letter addressed to the NRA Board, Mr. LaPierre claimed that your ?rm, Ackerman McQueen (Ackerman), drafted and was prepared to release a letter detailing ?a devastating account? of the ?nancial status: ?Yesterday (April 24, 2019) at approximately 2:58 pm. EST, Col. North placed a telephone call to Millie Hallow, one of my most senior staff members. Millie returned the call and took notes, the substance of which appears below. Col. North stated that the purpose of the call was to relay the contents 'of a letter drafted by AM [Ackerman McQueen]. According to C01. North, he had been advised by Dan Boren?a member of our Board and an employee of AM ?5 client?that unless I resigned as the Executive Vice President of the Association, Ackerman would transmit this allegedly damaging letter to the entire NRA Board. According to C01. North, the letter was ?bad? for me, two other members of my executive team, and the Association. I believe the purpose of the letter was to humiliate me, discredit our Association, and raise appearances of impropriety that hurt our members and the Second Amendment. The letter would contain a devastating account of our ?nancial status, sexual harassment charges against a staff member, accusations of wardrobe expenses and excessive staff travel expenses.?2 The NRA has claimed in a suit that Ackerman is in possession of detailed ?nancial records that could further elucidate these allegations and an Ackerman spokeswoman has claimed that your ?rm has already submitted to at least 1 New York Times, Insurgents Seek to Oust Wayne LaPierre in N.R.A. Power Struggle, April 26, 2019; 2 Wayne LaPierre letter to the NRA Board, April 25, 2019; one internal forensic audit.3 The Senate Finance Committee is charged with administration of matters relating to taxation, including oversight of tax-exempt organizations. Therefore, we request you provide the following: 1. A copy of the letter Mr. LaPierre alleges your ?rm to have authored and any evidence in support of the allegations contained within that letter. 2. Any other materials Ackerman prepared or contributed to for Co]. North to provide to the NRA Board of Directors or the NRA Executive Committee related to allegations of ?nancial misconduct or the organization?s nonpro?t status. 3. Any internal or third party audits, reviews, or investigations conducted by or for the NRA or Ackerman. Requested materials and any materials reasonably related to the requested materials should not be destroyed, altered, or otherwise made inaccessible to the Committee. Please provide these materials no later than May 16, 2019. If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact Finance Committee Democratic staff at (202) 224-4515. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, ?ew Ron Wyden i Robert Menendez Ranking Member United States Senator United States Senator 3 Wall Street Journal, NRA Files Suit Against Ad Agency in Rift With Key Partner, April 15, 2019;