Wayne LaPierre, the longtime leader of the National Rifle Association, said under oath in a New York City courtroom Friday that the organization's financial resources have been used to charter private jets, family vacations, service black cars and give luxury gifts to friends. admitted to using .
Mr. LaPierre, 74, other NRA leaders, and the organization itself were accused by New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2020 of violating nonprofit law by diverting millions of dollars in NRA funds for personal use. He is dodging the lawsuit he filed.
He took the stand for the first time Friday morning and answered most questions with a simple “yes” or “no.” He had previously announced his intention to resign from the gun rights organization, which he led for more than 30 years as vice president, at the end of this month, citing health issues.
Mr. LaPierre testified that he had no knowledge that the NRA was spending large sums of money on commercial aircraft charters and black-white car services, but when presented with invoices and receipts, he did not dispute the amounts. There wasn't.
For example, he admitted under oath that NRA funds were used to finance a flight from the Bahamas to Washington, D.C., that cost more than $22,000 in 2017. He acknowledged that NRA rules require employees to ride coaches.
He testified that his family sometimes boarded private planes when he was not present. For example, he authorized an $11,000 airline ticket for his niece Colleen Sterner, an NRA employee, and her daughter.
He testified that he and his family often traveled on the luxury yacht Illusions, owned by David McKenzie, the head of a television production company that had a contract with the NRA. The McKenzies invited the LaPierres on vacation in the Bahamas and accompanied them on trips to India and Abu Dhabi.
LaPierre acknowledged that the NRA Board of Directors did not approve these trips, and that various financial disclosure forms he completed in 2017 and 2018 detailed financial entanglements with “non-NRA entities.” He admitted that he had not done so.
McKenzie's company, Associated Television International, produced the show “Crime Strike,” which LaPierre once hosted. Mr. LaPierre was asked whether he was aware that the NRA was paying “millions of dollars” for Associated Television's services. He replied that he did not know the exact number.
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Conley showed the jury copies of invoices for gifts Mr. LaPierre purchased for friends and colleagues over the years, including an 830 gift that Bergdorf Goodman gave to the McKenzies' daughter. A dollar candlestick was also included.
Mr. Conley said Mr. LePierre provided gifts from Neiman Marcus, Christmas tips for his home's landscaper, dues to a golf club in Washington, and hotel accommodations for Mr. Sterner, including a stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2017. It was revealed that he had also submitted documents for the return of (including) $6,000.
During Friday morning's session, Mr. LaPierre had a furrowed brow and a steady tone in his voice, but he offered few details about his answers other than “yes” or “no.” He was most animated when answering questions about why he decided to file the NRA's bankruptcy, insisting that he did not do so to avoid scrutiny from New York state regulators.
“I filed for bankruptcy to protect the NRA from dissolution and asset seizure by the attorney general and to put the NRA in a healthy position for the future in Texas, where we have a level regulatory playing field.” said.
Other defendants, including the NRA itself, allegedly violated nonprofit laws and internal regulations while lining their own pockets, costing the gun rights organization more than $64 million over three years, according to the lawsuit.
They are Wilson “Woody” Phillips, former NRA treasurer and chief financial officer, and John Fraser, corporate secretary and general counsel.
If the jury finds Mr. LaPierre, Mr. Phillips and Mr. Fraser liable, they will each recommend the amount they must repay the NRA.
State Supreme Court Justice Joel Cohen, who has the final say on monetary damages and relief, will decide whether the defendants should be permanently barred from serving on the boards of New York charities and whether an independent monitor should It could decide whether to oversee the NRA's finances.
