NRA Files Yet Another Lawsuit Against Former Ad Vendor Ackerman McQueen

INDIANAPOLIS STATE HOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, UNITED STATES - 2019/04/27: NRA members are seen checking out weapons and accessories during an exhibition.NRA members and leaders gather in Indianapolis, Indiana for the annual NRA Meeting where President Donald Trump and others spoke and attendees were able to view a multitude of exhibits featuring firearms, outdoors equipment, and shooting gear. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS STATE HOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, UNITED STATES - 2019/04/27: NRA members are seen checking out weapons and accessories during an exhibition. NRA members and leaders gather in Indianapolis, Indiana for... INDIANAPOLIS STATE HOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, UNITED STATES - 2019/04/27: NRA members are seen checking out weapons and accessories during an exhibition. NRA members and leaders gather in Indianapolis, Indiana for the annual NRA Meeting where President Donald Trump and others spoke and attendees were able to view a multitude of exhibits featuring firearms, outdoors equipment, and shooting gear. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The National Rifle Association has sued, again, its former ad maker and “NRATV” creator, Ackerman McQueen.

In a complaint filed in federal court in Dallas Friday, the gun group demanded that Ackerman McQueen remove references to the NRA from Ackerman’s website.

Beyond that, the suit served as a press release of sorts — yet another stage for the gun group to air its grievances against its longtime vendor in the latest episode of their lengthy fallout.

“The NRA recently concluded, despite years of false reporting from defendants, that NRATV was a failed endeavor under any appropriate performance metric,” the suit says at one point, referring to the video platform and original programming Ackerman ran for its then-client.

Ackerman McQueen, in a statement to TPM, responded in kind.

“In light of its continual ‘shooting itself in the proverbial foot’, one can only conclude that the people who are supposedly running this apparently failing organization did not ever believe in the Constitution in the first place,” the firm said. “The NRA continues to spend its members’ money on useless fights in an obvious attempt to deflect attention from its dwindling influence across the country.”

The NRA has been in turmoil for months, and began feuding with Ackerman after the firm allegedly refused to turn over documents to the NRA that the gun group considered relevant to a probe by New York Attorney General Letitia James — as well as documents regarding an alleged side deal NRA President Oliver North had signed with Ackerman.

The NRA sued Ackerman, and the feud spilled out in a spectacularly public way. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre claimed North was extorting him, after which North did not serve a second term as NRA president. The group’s top lawyer was then suspendedThen the NRA sued Ackerman again, for damages related to alleged leaking the documents it sought in its first suit, to which Ackerman filed a counterclaim.

After that, the NRA suspended its top lobbyist, Chris Cox, for allegedly taking part in North’s alleged coup attempt against LaPierre. That claim was made in yet another suit, filed in the New York State Supreme Court against North.  The firm and advertiser severed ties formally in June.

LaPierre, meanwhile, has faced embarrassing public revelations about expensive suits, private jet rides and aborted plans to buy a mansion with NRA money. And the NRA has faced a bumpy financial road, with leaked documents showing the organization hemorrhaging money in all directions, including to board members.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Shouldn’t NRA be scaling down on unnecessary spending? All these flagrant lawsuits only causes them to spend money they may not have.

  2. SHHHHHHHHHH! Stupid is as stupid does
    Leave them alone to self immolate

  3. Boy shurr-ee, that would be a pickle.

  4. Avatar for docd docd says:

    These two groups deserve each other.

  5. The simpletons at the NRA just can’t help themselves, their vindictiveness knows no bounds. The stupid, it burns.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

44 more replies

Participants

Avatar for jootjoint Avatar for doctorbiobrain Avatar for george_spiggott Avatar for rollinnolan Avatar for irasdad Avatar for dont Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for sparrowhawk Avatar for ignoreland Avatar for artmofo Avatar for docd Avatar for richard_b Avatar for michaelryerson Avatar for tpr Avatar for drtv Avatar for the_sceptical_chymist Avatar for greenman66 Avatar for eaharrison Avatar for txlawyer Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for arawak Avatar for rucleare Avatar for randome Avatar for n_b

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: