Downriver Today

Attorney Todd Flood said "something smells" in relation to the timing of a lawsuit aimed at taking down the National Rifle Association (NRA).

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed the civil suit that claimed the NRA's top executives used millions for personal use and tax fraud.

The host of "The Frank Beckmann Show" said some people have called the lawsuit the "latest move to regulate guns."

Flood told Beckmann if what James claims is true, the NRA would have a problem; however, it wouldn't affect the U.S. Constitution because the Second Amendment is still on the books.

"The thing that's in my craw is if there's criminal acts that she's saying have been done, why hasn't she charged them criminally? As opposed to this civil infraction, this civil lawsuit to try to take down the NRA?" Flood asked Beckmann. 

Flood, the managing partner at Flood Law, also questioned why NRA executives weren't charged criminally if they did -- as the lawsuit alleges -- break the law.

"I wouldn't interrupt, or disrupt, a criminal investigation with a civil case first. That doesn't make sense," Flood told Beckmann. 

Flood said he also has an issue with when the lawsuit was filed, since it was just months before the upcoming November general election. He said going after the NRA right before people head to the polls is an attempt to disrupt the election, and if it wasn't, the lawsuit could have waited until either late this year or early next year. 

"Ninety percent of the time, I would tell you U.S. attorneys around the country will not interrupt an election with a criminal charge just prior to an election, or a civil charge like this," Flood said on the radio program.

In addition to the lawsuit, Flood also spoke about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected court proceedings. He said most hearings have taken place digitally over Zoom, but he believes at some point there will be a debate over public health and safety when it comes to the criminal justice system, since people have certain rights protected by the Constitution when it comes to having a trial.