Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Friday 21 June 2019

$ 10

NRA sues ex-president Oliver

North, saying he harmed the NRA

By LARRY NEUMEISTER judge's declaration that pended Cox, who said the
Associated Press the NRA isn't required to allegations were "offensive
NEW YORK (AP) — The Na- pay North's legal bills. and patently false."
tional Rifle Association has North stepped down from A message left for North
sued its former president, the post in April after serv- through his website wasn't
Oliver North, for what it ing for a year. The lawsuit immediately returned. An
called "conduct harmful said he "departed office NRA spokesman did not re-
to the NRA" as turmoil that after a widely publicized, turn multiple messages.
was exposed publicly when failed coup attempt." Cox has been the execu-
North resigned two months The suit also accused top tive director of the NRA In this April 26, 2019 photo, Nation Rifle Association President
ago continued Thursday NRA official Chris W. Cox Institute for Legislative Ac- Col. Oliver North speaks at the National Rifle Association Insti-
tute for Legislative Action Leadership Forum at Lucas Oil Sta-
when the organization also of conspiring with North to tion, the NRA's political and dium in Indianapolis.
turned against its longtime oust the organization's chief lobbying arm, since 2002. Associated Press
chief lobbyist. executive, Wayne LaPierre. Its website boasts that Cox
The lawsuit filed Wednes- The New York Times report- has "achieved some of its and legislative victories." arm who was quoted by
day in New York sought a ed that the NRA has sus- most significant political Yet, the lawsuit said, "an- the Times saying that "any
other errant NRA fiduciary, notion Chris participated in
Chris Cox — once thought a coup is absurd," respond-
24 kilos of drugs, 14 arrested by some to be a likely suc- ed to a message seeking
cessor for Mr. LaPierre — comment Thursday with an
in major drug ring takedown participated" in North's email saying she is not au-
conspiracy to enable the thorized to discuss person-
nel matters.
NRA's longtime advertis-
ing agency, Ackerman Last month, the NRA and
BOSTON (AP) — Authorities McQueen Inc., which em- Ackerman sued each oth-
arrested 14 people and ployed North, to gain con- er. The NRA said Ackerman
seized more than 24 kilo- trol of its largest client. had soiled its reputation
grams (53 pounds) of fen- "As became widely pub- and breached confidenti-
tanyl, heroin and cocaine licized, Mr. LaPierre pre- ality agreements while Ack-
as a result of a two-year vailed — and the attempt- erman maintained the NRA
drug trafficking investiga- ed coup by Ackerman, had damaged its business.
tion, Massachusetts Attor- spearheaded by North, North, 75, was a military
ney General Maura Healey failed," the lawsuit said. aide to the National Se-
said Thursday. "North has acted in the best curity Council in the 1980s
It's the biggest takedown interests of himself and Ack- when his role arranging the
of a major opioid traffick- erman and at the expense secret sale of weapons to
ing operation in the history of the interests of the NRA, Iran and the diversion of
of her office, she said. engaged in conduct harm- the proceeds to the anti-
"To put this in context, the Members of the media take images of guns, drugs and money ful to the NRA, and persis- communist Control rebels
24 kilos that we seized rep- on display at a press conference, Thursday, June 20, 2019, in tently failed to provide to in Nicaragua was revealed.
resents millions of dollars' Boston. the NRA important details In 1989, he was convicted
worth of drugs," she said at related to his lucrative con- of obstructing Congress
a news conference. "More rested previously. destruction that the opi- tract with Ackerman," the during its investigation, de-
importantly, it represents The investigation was oid epidemic has brought lawsuit said. stroying government docu-
hundreds of thousands of launched by special to our neighborhoods," he Jennifer Baker, a spokes- ments and accepting an
lethal doses of drugs that agents at the U.S. Drug said. "Every time we take woman for NRA's lobbying illegal gratuity. q
have kept from affecting Enforcement Agency of- fentanyl off the streets it
communities in our state." fice in Manchester, New saves lives."
Twelve people between Hampshire, who sought the The ring sold drugs through- CAR RENTAL 5616944
the ages of 24 and 52 were source of drugs coming out the Northeast and was Address: Paramira #30 (Oranjestad) - Email: yessrentalcar@gmail.com - Website: www.yessrentalcar.com
arrested and $100,000 in into that state. controlled in part by peo-
cash and four guns were The arrests will have a mea- ple living as far away as We Rent:
seized Wednesday dur- surable impact on the opi- New Jersey, Healey said. Cars- Vans - SUV
ing a series of raids in Law- oid trade, said Jon DeLena, Healey said the investiga-
rence and Methuen con- associate special agent in tion used high-tech surveil-
ducted by local, state and charge of the DEA's New lance techniques as well
federal law enforcement. England Field Division. as traditional law enforce-
Two people had been ar- "We have witnessed the ment methods.q