New York Attorney General Letitia James’ legal victory against the National Rifle Association will help Vice President Kamala Harris in a debate against former President Donald Trump, according to a prosecutor.
A judge in late July banned Wayne LaPierre, the former head of the National Rifle Association, from holding a paid position with the organization for a decade, but declined to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the gun rights group.
The decision came in the second stage of a civil trial against the NRA brought by James, a Democrat who is leading a group of Black attorneys general in supporting Harris’ campaign for the White House.
The first phase of the trial saw LaPierre and another deputy liable for misspending millions of dollars on extravagant trips and other personal expenses. The Manhattan jury found LaPierre, 74, must repay almost $4.4 million, while the NRA’s retired finance chief, Wilson Phillips, must repay $2 million.
“After years of corruption, the NRA and its senior leaders are finally being held accountable,” James said in a statement celebrating the latest ruling.
The ruling was a “stinging decision” for the NRA, Dave Aronberg, the state attorney for Florida’s Palm Beach County, said on the Meidas Touch Network on Wednesday.
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He said that during a debate, Harris will likely “go after” Trump over his ties to the NRA. A debate between Harris and Trump has been scheduled for September 10 on ABC News, but Trump is pushing for a debate hosted by Fox News on September 4.
“You can count on Vice President Kamala Harris going after Donald Trump for his obsequence to the National Rifle Association,” Aronberg added. “And if he’s going to count on the NRA to get him elected this time around, well, think again.”
Aronberg said the NRA is far weaker than it was just a few years ago, and Trump’s adherence to the group’s “radical” ideas are “coming back to haunt him” ahead of November’s election.
“If you’re still concerned that the NRA is going to have a major impact on the election, keep in mind this: in the last few years, the NRA has been considerably weaker, with less influence in the political sphere and fewer members,” Aronberg said. Membership fell to 4.2 million from almost 6 million about five years ago, The New York Times reported earlier this year.
Aronberg said he suspects Trump will “be running away from some of these statements he’s made in the past, and some of these ideas like refusal to back an assault weapons ban, watch for it in the coming days of the campaign.”
Newsweek has contacted Aronberg, and the Trump and Harris campaigns for comment via email. James’ office has also been contacted for comment via email.
Earlier this year, James also secured victory in her civil fraud lawsuit against Trump.
Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in February that Trump inflated his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals. Engoron ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties, but with interest, the total has grown to more than $470 million. Trump posted a $175 million bond in April to halt collection of the judgment and prevent James’ office from seizing his assets while he appeals the verdict.
