The Letter

Four members of the NRA Board of Directors have sent a letter to the Board and Officers calling for an independent investigation and review of the following:

  1. Allegations of financial misconduct
  2. Review of the billings of Brewer, Attorneys and Counselors
  3. Creation of an outside, independent committee tasked for investigating the issues surrounding potential financial misconduct and the Brewer billing. This committee would then report back to the Board of Directors its findings.

The members who sent this letter were Sean Maloney, Tim Knight, Esther Schneider, and LtCol. Robert Brown. The issues raised mirror the letter from former NRA President Oliver North sent on April 25th to the Board where he announced the formation of a crisis management committee. They also correlate with the joint North-Childress letter of April 18th which questioned in detail the billings of the Brewer firm.

All four of these Board members had been purged from their committee assignments in whole or in part.

The full letter is below:

July 22, 2019


President Carolyn Meadows
The National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030


Secretary John Frazier
The National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030


The National Rifle Association of America Board of Directors
The National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030


Friends and Patriots of the NRA


RE: Independent investigations


Dear Folks,



Continued leaks, accusations, and counter accusations have left a haze of conjecture surrounding our Association. It is our duty as a duly elected Board of Directors to dispel this cloud, right the Association’s path and restore the trust of our members.


Because of our dedication and loyalty to the NRA, the Answer and Counterclaim filed on behalf of Oliver North, in the case of National Rifle Association v. Oliver North, compels us as Board Members – legally bound by our fiduciary duty of care – to act. To ensure that we are fully and accurately informed about the financial health of the Association, we must make the following requests.


First, that the NRA engage outside professionals to conduct an independent, internal investigation and confidential audit into the allegations of financial misconduct. Second, that the NRA conduct an outside, independent review of the millions of dollars in payments to Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors for legal fees. Third, pursuant to NRA Bylaw Article IV, Section 2, Board of Directors, Powers and Duties, that an Outside Independent Special Committee be formed, tasked with investigating and addressing the problems identified above, and required to report its findings and recommendations to the entire Board of Directors.


With this degree of scrutiny and transparency, the Board can fulfill our legal obligations, remove all doubt regarding our Association’s direction, and allow us to return to our mission of protecting our Second Amendment.


Yours for freedom,


/S/ Sean Maloney
/S/ Timothy Knight
/S/ Esther Schneider
/S/ Lt. Col. Robert K. Brown, USAR (Ret.)