Wayne LaPierre, former president of the National Rifle Association (NRA), has been ordered to pay more than $4 million for mismanagement of the organization’s charitable funds, which he led for more than 30 years.
A Manhattan jury reportedly found that LaPierre, along with other leaders of a prominent gun rights organization, diverted millions of dollars on lavish personal trips and other questionable expenses. Associated Press.
The jury found that Mr. LaPierre, who resigned from the NRA in early January, must pay $4.3 million in damages. It turns out that he caused the organization $5.4 million in damages, but he has already repaired more than $1 million.
The case comes after New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against gun rights groups in 2020. The ruling is the latest blow to the organization, which has struggled with financial difficulties, including declining membership and attempted bankruptcy. 2021.
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Jurors also found that the nonprofit violated New York state law by falsely reporting information on its tax returns and failing to utilize its whistleblower policy.
The organization’s former finance director, Wilson Phillips, who is now retired, was ordered to pay $2 million to the organization.
The New York State Attorney General celebrated the ruling.
“No matter how powerful or influential you think you are in New York, you can’t escape corruption and greed,” James said. I have written Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Everyone has to play by the same rules, including the NRA and Wayne LaPierre.”
The news comes more than a month after LaPierre announced his resignation as head of the organization, citing health concerns.
“I have been a card member of this organization for most of my adult life and will never stop supporting the NRA and the fight to protect Second Amendment freedoms. My passion burns deeper than ever before,” he wrote at the time.
The group’s major legal victories under LaPierre include last year’s New York State Rifle, which overturned New York’s handgun regulations and started a wave of legal challenges to other gun control measures in dozens of states; -Includes the Supreme Court’s decision in Pistol Association v. Bruen.
The former president denied wrongdoing, but LaPierre admitted during his trial that he used company funds for personal trips and gifts.
NRA officials argued in response to Friday’s ruling that they presented evidence that the association had been “harmed” by “insiders” who abused the trust of its members.
“The NRA’s parade of witnesses and independent experts has proven that the NRA was the victim of covert conduct by former vendors and trustees that was not in the association’s best interest,” NRA attorney William said. A. Brewer III said in a statement. .
“In any case, the NYAG lawsuit focuses on the past, and the NRA lives in the present. It was the NRA that ultimately established the records that NYAG was pursuing,” he added. “Our clients are encouraged by our track record of good governance and look forward to the second phase of this litigation.”
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