Manhattan Jury Finds NRA Liable for Financial Mismanagement in Civil Corruption Case
A Manhattan jury has delivered a verdict in the civil corruption case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its former CEO, Wayne LaPierre. The jury found the organization liable for financial mismanagement, stating that LaPierre’s violations of his duties cost the NRA $5.4 million. However, LaPierre had already paid roughly $1 million back to the organization. The jury ordered him to repay the remaining amount of $4,351,231.
The lawsuit, filed by James in 2020, accused LaPierre and other NRA executives of using millions of dollars in company funds for luxury personal purchases and trips. According to the attorney general’s office, LaPierre spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on trips to the Bahamas alone. The NRA has consistently claimed that the case is politically motivated, with James campaigning on a promise to investigate the organization. James referred to the NRA as “an organ of deadly propaganda” and even called it a “terrorist organization” before being elected to office.
In August 2020, James filed a dissolution lawsuit aiming to break up the NRA over alleged corruption. While a New York Supreme Court justice blocked this effort in a 2022 decision, allowing the suit against the top officials to proceed, it was clear that James was determined to hold the organization accountable for what she described as “years of illegal self-dealing” and providing a “lavish lifestyle” for its executives.
During the trial, LaPierre and the other defendants were accused of trying to deflect and downplay their use of funds. Assistant Attorney General Monica Connell argued that they were caught “with their hands in the cookie jar” and attempted to shift blame onto others. State attorneys presented evidence that LaPierre had spent millions on private flights and trips to the Bahamas, as well as awarding no-show contracts to former employees to buy their silence.
LaPierre, who stepped down as NRA CEO and executive vice president last month after serving since 1991, claimed that he had made governance changes within the organization since 2021 and had already repaid around $300,000 to the group. His attorney argued that his use of private flights was necessary for safety reasons, given his prominent national stature in the gun debate.
Throughout the trial, the NRA’s legal team maintained that the organization had taken steps to address any potential corruption when it was first raised through internal complaints. Attorney Sarah Rogers stated that the NRA had thoroughly investigated the allegations and left “no stone unturned.”
The verdict delivered by the Manhattan jury is a significant blow to the NRA and its former CEO. It underscores the importance of financial accountability and the consequences of mismanagement within nonprofit organizations. As the NRA continues to face scrutiny and legal challenges, it remains to be seen how this verdict will impact its future operations and reputation.
