NRA exposed as corrupt under LaPierre, ordered to pay millions in damages

The NRA and its executives were ordered to pay millions of dollars in fines after being found guilty of financial fraud after a jury trial wrapped up on Friday. Seen here, NRA executive Wayne La Pierre leaves State Supreme Court in Manhattan.
Photo: Frank Franklin II/AP

Private jets, luxury travel and, of course, expensive clothes. Wayne LaPierre, the longtime NRA executive, was found guilty on Friday of using NRA funds to fund his own lavish lifestyle. His theft was estimated to be well over $5 million.

This included repeated private flights to the Bahamas, helicopter trips to NASCAR races, and numerous personal expenses such as outdoor mosquito treatment and landscaping for LaPierreโ€™s house, all billed to the NRA.ย 

On top of that, a substantial no-show contract with Woody Phillips and more than $4 million in vague โ€œout-of-pocketโ€ expenses from a major NRA vendor were uncovered. Whistleblower testimonies further revealed a culture of harassment within the NRA against those who raised concerns about these financial irregularities.

A New York jury has found the National Rifle Association (NRA) and several of its top executives, including LaPierre, guilty of multiple legal violations on Friday. LaPierre, alongside former Treasurer and CFO Wilson โ€œWoodyโ€ Phillips, were identified as primary culprits in the misuse of NRA funds for personal gain.

The juryโ€™s findings revealed a pattern of extravagant spending by LaPierre, including millions on private jets, luxury travel, and expensive clothing, all billed to the organization. As a result, LaPierre is ordered to pay $4.35 million in restitution, with total damages caused by his actions amounting to $5.4 million.

The case also exposed systemic failures within the NRA to administer charitable funds appropriately and adhere to state laws designed to protect whistleblowers.

Phillips, alongside John Frazer, the NRAโ€™s general counsel and corporate secretary, failed in their duties to uphold the integrity…

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