Oliver North Named President of the NRA

Lt. Col. Oliver North, a Fox News contributor best known for his role at the heart of the Iran-Contra scandal, has been named president of the National Rifle Association, according to a statement out Monday.

“This is the most exciting news for our members since Charlton Heston became President of our Association,” NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre said in the statement. “Oliver North is a legendary warrior for American freedom, a gifted communicator and skilled leader.

“In these times, I can think of no one better suited to serve as our President,” he added.

North will become president “within a few weeks,” the statement said, and will be resigning from his role at Fox News “effective immediately.”

Read the statement here:

NEW: Oliver North will become the next President of the @NRA pic.twitter.com/iDt28zTPQB

— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) May 7, 2018

North’s fame was born when he was a young official fired from President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Council over the Iran-Contra affair — a scandal in which weapons were sold to Iran in an effort to fund the Contra rebels fighting the socialist government in Nicaragua.

[image via screengrab]

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