National Rifle Association’s Top Lobbyist Resigns

The National Rifle Association's embattled top lobbyist has resigned after being accused of seeking to overthrow the group's leader, a person familiar with the matter said.

Chris Cox, the NRA's No. 2 official and its liaison to elected officials, has served in the role since 2002. He oversaw the $33 million budget of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action and co-chairs President Donald Trump's Second Amendment Coalition with the president's son, Donald Jr.

The NRA filed an explosive lawsuit last week saying that Cox had betrayed the group's longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, by joining NRA President Oliver North in a coup attempt in April. That followed accusations of lavish spending against LaPierre.

It's not clear who inside the NRA could take Cox's place, and recruiting an outsider could be especially difficult because of the financial turmoil and political bloodletting roiling the group, insiders say.

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