A judge in New York on Monday banned former NRA leader Wayne LaPierre from serving in a role at the NRA or affiliate organizations for 10 years after he was held liable for financial mismanagement of the nation’s most well-known gun lobby.
The judge gave the NRA itself and the New York Attorney General’s office one week to discuss potential reforms.
“The NRA and its senior leaders broke the law, and funneled millions of dollars in cash and lavish perks to themselves, their families, and NRA insiders,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “The damages portion of the case we presented, as well as the earlier trial before the jury, demonstrated that the NRA had a stunning lack of accountability and it’s leaders engaged in illegality and self-dealing. As a result of this case, Wayne LaPierre will be banned from the NRA for 10 years for spearheading this fraud, and the court called for additional proposed reforms to the NRA. After years of corruption, the NRA and its senior leaders are finally being held accountable.”
Former CEO and executive vice president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) Wayne LaPierre prepares to speak at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention on May 27, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images, FILE
After five days of deliberations in February, a jury in New York held the National Rifle Association liable for financial mismanagement and found that LaPierre, the group’s former CEO, corruptly ran the nation’s most prominent gun rights group.
LaPierre and a senior executive at the NRA were ordered to pay a combined $6.35 million “for abusing the system and breaking our laws,” New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office brought the lawsuit against the organization, said following the verdict.
The jury determined that LaPierre’s violation of his duties cost the NRA $5.4 million in damages, though he already repaid more than $1 million to the organization. He must pay $4.35 million, the New York Attorney General’s Office said at the time.
The New York Attorney General’s Office sued the NRA and its senior management in 2020, claiming they misappropriated millions of dollars to fund personal benefits — including private jets, family vacations and luxury goods. The accusations came at the end of a three-year investigation into the NRA, which is registered in New York as a nonprofit charitable corporation.
-ABC News’ Meredith Deliso and Peter Charalambous contributed to this report.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) recently announced a 10-year ban on its former leader, Wayne LaPierre, from serving in the organization and its affiliates. This decision comes after a long and contentious legal battle between LaPierre and the NRA over allegations of financial misconduct and mismanagement.
The NRA’s board of directors voted unanimously to impose the ban on LaPierre, citing his role in a series of financial scandals that have plagued the organization in recent years. LaPierre has been accused of using NRA funds for personal expenses, including luxury vacations and expensive clothing, as well as receiving excessive compensation from the organization.
The ban means that LaPierre will not be able to serve in any leadership role within the NRA or its affiliated organizations for the next decade. This is a significant blow to LaPierre, who has been a prominent figure in the gun rights movement for decades and has led the NRA since 1991.
The decision to ban LaPierre reflects a growing concern among NRA members and supporters about the organization’s financial practices and leadership. In recent years, the NRA has faced mounting scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers, and donors over allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption.
The NRA’s decision to ban LaPierre is a clear signal that the organization is taking steps to address these concerns and restore trust among its members and supporters. By holding its former leader accountable for his actions, the NRA is sending a message that it is committed to upholding high ethical standards and ensuring that donor funds are used responsibly.
In response to the ban, LaPierre has vowed to fight back against what he calls a “political witch hunt” aimed at destroying his reputation and undermining the NRA’s mission. He has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the organization’s leadership of trying to scapegoat him for their own failures.
The NRA’s decision to ban LaPierre from serving in the organization and its affiliates is a significant development in the ongoing saga of financial scandal and controversy that has engulfed the organization in recent years. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the future of the NRA and its efforts to promote gun rights and defend the Second Amendment.
