“The investigation followed reports of serious misconduct and revealed additional evidence that, at the very least, undermines any proposal that was merely a pretext for punishing the NRA for its constitutionally protected activities,” Cohen said in his ruling. NRA’s lawyer, William Brewer III, told CNN in a statement that the organization was disappointed with the decision. He said the NRA was “committed to good governance and is transparent about its efforts in this regard”. Brewer noted that the decision does not affect the NRA’s defense of the attorney general. “The NRA believes that NYAG’s pursuit was fueled by its opposition to the Association and First Amendment activities in support of Second Amendment,” Brewer said. “There is an excellent public record that NYAG, as a candidate, has promised to target the Union – creepy elements of its motives towards a political opponent.” In 2020, James’s office accused the NRA of violating the laws governing nonprofits and that the current and former leaderships “have established a culture of mismanagement.” On Friday, James said her office would continue its investigation because “no organization is above the law.” “Today, the court upheld the legality and viability of my office’s lawsuit against the NRA for years of fraud, abuse and greed. For almost two years, the NRA tried every trick in the book to avoid responsibility for its actions, only “to be repeatedly rejected by the courts,” James said in a statement. Cohen had previously thwarted James’s attempt to disband the organization, but allowed its case to proceed in March. At the time, Cohen said the attorney general’s lawsuit contained a bleak picture of “greed, self-bargaining and lax financial oversight” and failed to prove that the alleged mismanagement of money caused public harm. Cohen also said that dissolving the NRA could affect its members’ freedom of speech. Brewer, meanwhile, said parts of the NRA’s counterclaims were rejected when Cohen thwarted Attorney General’s attempt to disband the organization.
