The National Rifle Association is gathering documents related to its relationship with Alexander Torshin, an NRA member and one of 17 Russian officials who was hit with sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department, according to a new report.
Amid congressional scrutiny about the relationship, some NRA employees claim that the gun-rights group is bracing for an investigation, CNN reports.
“True believers to the cause are getting very antsy,” a person familiar with the organization’s deliberations told CNN. “They were definitely preparing, they were bracing themselves.”
For example, NRA employees have been instructed to collect information concerning Torshin and Maria Butina, an associate of his who oversees a Russian pro-guns group. Additionally, sources claim that some officials are apprehensive about a possible investigation into the NRA’s connections to Russia.
According to a McClatchy report from January, the FBI was looking to whether Torshin illegally filtered money to the gun-rights group in order to help Trump become president. The group provided more than $30 million to support Trump’s campaign in 2016.
Although the NRA has denied that it accepted illegal donations, sources say NRA officials have been organizing materials as if there was an investigation.
The Torshin question has drawn scrutiny from Democrats in Congress.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., sent a letter to NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre earlier this year voicing his concerns about the relationship between the NRA and Torshin, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., sent a letter to the Treasury Department earlier this year requesting documents on Torshin’s involvement in the organization.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration sanctioned 17 senior Russian officials, including Torshin, seven Russian oligarchs, and more than a dozen companies and banks. Those impacted by the sanctions had most of their U.S. assets frozen and are barred from engaging in dealings with Americans or U.S entities.
Following those sanctions, the NRA said it was reevaluating its connection with Torshin.
The NRA declined to comment to CNN.
