At about this time the company became embroiled in a lengthy series of political maneuverings in Washington, D.C. Drew Pearson's "Washington Merry-Go-Round" claimed that the founding of ERA was a conflict of interest for Norris and Engstrom because they had used their war-time government connections to set up a company for their own profit. The resulting legal fight left the company drained, both financially and emotionally. In 1952 they were purchased by Remington Rand, largely as a result of these problems.