Aiexpress – Wayne LaPierre, the former head of the National Rifle Association (NRA), has been ordered to pay over $4 million for his mismanagement of charitable funds during his thirty-year tenure with the organization.
The Associated Press reports that LaPierre, along with other leaders of the prominent gun rights group, was found guilty by a Manhattan jury for diverting millions of dollars towards extravagant personal trips and other questionable expenses.
LaPierre, who resigned from the NRA in early January, has been ordered by the jury to pay $4.3 million in damages. The jury determined that he was responsible for causing $5.4 million in damages to the organization, but he had already managed to repair over $1 million of that amount.
In 2020, New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, filed a lawsuit against the gun rights advocacy group. The trial marked a significant blow to the organization, which has been grappling with declining membership and financial difficulties. One such challenge was their failed attempt at bankruptcy in 2021.
The jurors also discovered that the non-profit had misrepresented information in its tax filing and had violated New York state law by failing to implement a whistleblower policy.
Wilson Phillips, the retired former finance chief of the organization, has been instructed to pay a substantial sum of $2 million to the organization.
The verdict was celebrated by the New York attorney general.
“In New York, corruption and greed will not be tolerated, regardless of how powerful or influential one might believe themselves to be,” James emphasized on Friday via X, formerly known as Twitter. “Everyone, including the NRA and Wayne LaPierre, must abide by the same set of rules.”
In a surprising turn of events, it has been revealed that Wayne LaPierre, the former head of the organization, has announced his resignation due to health concerns. This news comes more than a month after his initial announcement.
“I have been a loyal member of this organization for the majority of my adult years, and my unwavering support for the NRA and its relentless battle to protect Second Amendment rights will never waver. My commitment to our cause remains as strong as ever,” he expressed in his statement.
The National Rifle Association, under the leadership of LaPierre, achieved significant legal successes. One notable triumph was the Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. This landmark decision invalidated New York’s handgun regulations and sparked a surge of legal battles against various gun control measures across multiple states.
During the trial, LaPierre confessed to using company funds for personal trips and gifts, while the former head vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
In response to Friday’s verdict, officials from the NRA claimed that it provided evidence of the association being “victimized” by individuals within the organization who had abused the trust of its members.
According to a statement by NRA counsel William A. Brewer III, a procession of NRA witnesses and independent experts made it clear that the NRA was on the receiving end of secretive actions that were not in the best interest of the Association, carried out by former vendors and fiduciaries.
“Our client, the NRA, is focused on the present and looks forward to phase two of these proceedings,” he emphasized. “The NYAG’s case may have centered on the past, but it was the NRA that built the record being pursued. The NRA remains confident in its commitment to good governance and is ready to face the next stage of this process.”
