After a civil corruption case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, former NRA chief Wayne LaPierre was found guilty by a Manhattan jury of mismanaging the gun rights group. The jury recommended LaPierre repay $4.35 million due to wasteful spending and support of a lavish lifestyle, including private jets and expensive trips.
Additionally, former NRA treasurer Wilson Phillips was directed to repay $2 million for his own mismanagement. However, current NRA secretary John Frazer was cleared of financial wrongdoing.
James accused the NRA of allowing top executives to divert millions for luxuries, creating a culture of corruption. LaPierre, once a political powerhouse, resigned in January after over three decades as CEO. Despite the NRA’s influence in gun rights advocacy, its revenue has declined significantly in recent years.
The jury found LaPierre caused $5.4 million in damages to the NRA but had repaid $1.05 million. Defense lawyers argued the lawsuit was politically motivated, aimed at silencing the NRA.
The verdict marks a significant blow to the NRA, which has faced internal turmoil and declining membership. The group maintained it was victimized by former vendors and insiders who abused trust.
The jury’s decision comes after five days of deliberation and underscores the NRA’s obligation as a nonprofit to serve its members and advance charitable needs. While James originally sought to dissolve the NRA, the court ruled against it in 2022.
LaPierre admitted some oversight failures during testimony, acknowledging he should have disclosed certain financial arrangements to the NRA board. However, he defended the organization’s efforts to improve accounting practices since 2018.
Ultimately, the verdict highlights the challenges facing the NRA as it navigates legal battles and attempts to regain public trust amidst allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption.
