Wayne LaPierre, the longtime president of the National Rifle Association, embezzled millions of dollars in National Rifle Association funds and used them to buy a lavish lifestyle that included exotic vacations and trips on private planes and superyachts. He used the money to make payments, a New York jury ruled Friday.
The jury ordered LaPierre, 74, to repay about $4.4 million to the powerful gun rights organization he led for 30 years. It also ordered former NRA finance director Wilson Phillips to repay $2 million to the group. The jury also found that the NRA violated New York state law by omitting or misrepresenting information on its tax returns and failing to adopt a whistleblower policy.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat who campaigned for an investigation into the NRA's nonprofit status, declared the ruling a “huge victory.”
The jury also found that the NRA violated state laws protecting whistleblowers who raised concerns about the organization, including the organization's former president, Oliver North.
The result is the latest blow to the powerful group, which has suffered financial difficulties and declining membership in recent years. Mr. LaPierre, a longtime face, announced his resignation on the eve of the trial.
front burner28:08The downfall of NRA's Wayne LaPierre
The trial, which began last month, examines the leadership, organizational culture and culture of the powerful lobbying group, which was founded in New York City more than 150 years ago to promote riflemanship and has grown into a political behemoth that influences the federal government. Focused on finances. Law and presidential elections.
Before his resignation, Mr. LaPierre had led the NRA's day-to-day operations since 1991, serving as the face of the organization and becoming one of the country's most influential figures in shaping U.S. gun policy.
