The chief executive of the US gun lobby group the National Rifle Association (NRA) has resigned, the organisation has said.
Wayne LaPierre, 74, will step down as of 31 January after leading the NRA for more than three decades.
His resignation comes days before a New York civil trial, in which he and other senior leaders are accused of misusing NRA funds.
In a statement, Mr LaPierre said he remains a champion of the NRA.
“I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom,” he said.
“My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.”
Mr LaPierre has cited health reasons as being behind his decision to resign, the NRA said in a statement.
His resignation comes as a New York civil trial is set to commence on Monday, in which it is alleged that he and three other current and former NRA leaders violated the state’s non-profit laws.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the lawsuit in 2020, also accused the leaders of misusing millions of dollars of funds to pay for lavish personal expenses.
