Jury finds NRA and Wayne LaPierre liable in civil corruption trial
Wayne LaPierre was found guilty by a jury on Friday of misappropriating millions of dollars from the National Rifle Association (NRA) to support a lavish lifestyle, revealing significant financial mismanagement within the organization.
Following five days of deliberations, the jury concluded a seven-week civil corruption trial in New York City, which was initiated by a lawsuit filed in 2020 by New York Attorney General Letitia James. James accused LaPierre, along with other current and former NRA executives, of violating state laws and internal policies to enrich themselves.
Alongside LaPierre, the other defendants included John Frazer, the NRA’s corporate secretary and general counsel, and Wilson “Woody” Phillips, its former treasurer and chief financial officer.
The jury sided predominantly with James, determining that the NRA failed to effectively oversee its nonprofit operations and assets between March 20, 2014, and May 2, 2022. Additionally, they found that LaPierre, Phillips, and Frazer breached their duties in good faith as mandated by law.
LaPierre was held accountable for causing $5.4 million in financial harm to the NRA, although he had already repaid $1 million of that sum. Phillips was found responsible for $2 million in financial harm, while Frazer did not incur any monetary damages on the organization.
Despite Frazer's ongoing employment with the NRA, the jury established that he had made or approved false statements in the organization's annual filings but determined no grounds for his removal.
LaPierre, who served as the NRA’s CEO and executive vice president for over three decades, resigned in January due to health reasons. However, the jury ruled that his resignation did not absolve him of accountability for his actions, signaling cause for his removal from the NRA.
After the verdict was announced, LaPierre left the courthouse without addressing reporters, escorted by police officers.
Furthermore, the jury concluded that the NRA violated the law by failing to implement a whistleblower policy, resulting in harm to eight employees.
The final decisions regarding remedies lie with State Supreme Court Judge Joel Cohen. As early as July, Cohen may determine whether any of the individual defendants should be permanently banned from serving on the board of any charity in New York and whether an independent monitor should oversee the NRA’s finances.
James hailed the verdict as a significant triumph in combating corruption within the NRA and emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who abuse their positions for personal gain.
Throughout the trial, James' legal team portrayed the NRA as a realm dominated by LaPierre, characterized by extravagances including private jets, luxury meals, and family trips funded by the organization.
In contrast, LaPierre’s defense sought to distance the NRA from his actions, alleging that any wrongdoing was the result of rogue employees acting without the organization's knowledge.
Despite the trial's revelations, none of the defendants faced criminal charges as part of James’ lawsuit.
Initially seeking to dissolve the NRA, James’ efforts were dismissed by Cohen in 2022, who deemed her complaint lacking the necessary legal grounds to justify such action.
Founded in 1871 as a nonprofit charitable corporation in New York, the NRA has experienced a decline in influence and membership in recent years. Membership dwindled from nearly 6 million to 4.2 million over five years, accompanied by a $14 million decrease in membership dues from 2021 to 2022, as reported by The New York Times.
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