Wayne LaPierre, the former chief of the National Rifle Association (NRA), has been ordered by a Manhattan jury to repay over $4 million to the NRA. This verdict comes after allegations of LaPierre violating state charity laws and misusing the NRA’s charitable funds.
The lawsuit was initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2020. The allegations were severe, accusing LaPierre and other NRA executives of using the nonprofit organization as their personal piggy bank.
Monica Connell, an attorney with the New York State Attorney General’s office, was quoted saying, “This case is about corruption. It’s about breaches of trust and power.” She also argued that LaPierre and the NRA had been caught “with their hands in the cookie jar.”
The prosecution presented evidence suggesting that LaPierre had spent millions of dollars of the NRA’s charitable assets on private plane trips for himself and his family. He was also accused of vacationing multiple times in the Bahamas on the yacht of an NRA vendor.
Furthermore, it was alleged that LaPierre arranged lucrative financial deals with company insiders that did not benefit the NRA.
LaPierre, who had been at the helm of the NRA since 1991, maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His attorney dismissed the case as a political witch-hunt by James, stating, “He is a good man who acted honorably, but the state wants to put him in bankruptcy. He doesn’t deserve to be made penniless.”
Just before the start of the six-week trial, LaPierre announced his resignation from the NRA, citing health reasons. Assistant Attorney General Monica Connell argued in an opening statement in a civil trial scrutinizing his leadership and spending at the nonprofit, “Wayne LaPierre’s methods as the NRA’s executive vice president and chief executive officer allowed him to operate the powerful gun rights organization “as Wayne’s World for decades”.
Under LaPierre’s leadership, the NRA expanded into a lobbying powerhouse and a formidable force for Second Amendment rights. However, his tenure was not without controversy. A series of national mass shootings made him a polarizing figure, drawing the ire of gun-control activists. In recent years, the NRA’s influence and revenues have diminished due to the ongoing corruption scandal.
In response to the allegations and the subsequent trial, the NRA and LaPierre have stated that the group has embarked on a major “course correction”. This includes terminating certain vendors, promoting a whistleblower to its top financial job, and eliminating virtually all related-party transactions with board members. They also stated that LaPierre has already reimbursed the NRA more than $1 million for “excess benefits.”
The verdict of the Manhattan jury marks a significant chapter in the history of the NRA. The order for LaPierre to repay over $4 million to the NRA is a clear message against the misuse of charitable funds.
Following the verdict, New York Attorney General Letitia James tweeted, ‘In a major victory, my office won our case against the NRA and its senior leadership for years of corruption and greed. Wayne LaPierre and a senior executive at the NRA must pay $6.35 million for abusing the system and breaking our laws.’
In a major victory, my office won our case against the NRA and its senior leadership for years of corruption and greed.
Wayne LaPierre and a senior executive at the NRA must pay $6.35 million for abusing the system and breaking our laws.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) February 23, 2024
It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the future of the NRA and its role in the gun rights movement.
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