Topline
A New York judge on Monday banned former National Rifle Association executive Wayne LaPierre from holding a paid position with the second-amendment lobbying group for 10 years, multiple outlets reported—the latest legal hurdle for the NRA, just months after LaPierre’s resignation amid a multi-year corruption case.
Former NRA head Wayne LaPierre will not be able to hold a paid position with the lobbying group for … [+]
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Key Facts
In his decision, New York Judge Joel Cohen also rejected a state request to appoint a monitor to oversee financial operations of the NRA’, which was found liable in February for orchestrating a decade-long scheme to divert donor funds for lavish personal expenses.
Cohen argued the state request for third-party oversight would be “time-consuming, disruptive” and “impose significant costs on the NRA without corresponding benefits.”
Despite his controversial remarks — including an oft-quoted comment from after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in which he argued “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun” — LaPierre had for years maintained a positive standing within the organization, winning re-election in a landslide in 2022, even as lawmakers doubled down on pressure for revamped gun control legislation in the wake of a string of deadly shootings.
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Key Background
New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the NRA in 2020, accusing NRA executives, including LaPierre, of orchestrating a 16-year scheme to dodge IRS reporting requirements, “wasting significant charitable resources in the process.” In February, a New York jury found the NRA liable in a multi-year scheme to skirt IRS reporting requirements and spend donor funds on lavish private expenditures, including vacations, a yacht and private jet. In its decision, the jury ruled LaPierre cost the NRA $5.4 million, and ordered him to repay the organization $4.4 million, while NRA executive Wilson Phillips was ordered to repay it $2 million. Facing public backlash stemming from the corruption trial, LaPierre resigned as the NRA’s chief executive in January, though at the time the 74-year-old cited health reasons for his departure—Andrew Arulanandam took LaPierre’s spot as interim CEO.
Tangent
The NRA endorsed former President Donald Trump in May, giving the GOP nominee his third straight NRA endorsement, despite Trump’s back and forth position on enhanced background checks, which the NRA has largely opposed. Speaking at the lobbying group’s leadership forum in Dallas, Trump said he would “stand strong for your rights and liberties,” calling the NRA the “backbone” of the country.
Further Reading
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