NRA Defends Itself in NY Corruption Trial

Longtime leader Wayne LaPierre resigns amid allegations of extravagant spending

New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the NRA, its longtime leader Wayne LaPierre, and two other top executives in 2020, accusing them of violating the trust of the nonprofit charity’s 5 million members by spending tens of millions of dollars raised through dues and other means on extravagant, unnecessary expenses.
In opening statements at the civil trial, NRA lawyer Sarah Rogers acknowledged that some former executives and outside vendors may have misused the organization's funds, but questioned why the NRA is being forced to defend itself when it’s also a victim and could end up reaping millions of dollars in restitution.
LaPierre’s lawyer, P. Kent Correll, defended the executive vice president and chief executive officer as having served the NRA “well and honorably and honestly for 44 years,” and justified LaPierre’s expenses as vital to his job promoting the organization’s gun-rights agenda.
LaPierre is accused of charging the organization more than $11 million for private jet flights despite the NRA’s policy of only covering the cost of coach-class airfare, and of taking lucrative gifts from people doing business with the NRA, including trips to Bahamas, Greece, Dubai and India and stays on a 108-foot yacht from a marketing firm that had $135 million in contracts with the NRA.
LaPierre submitted his resignation to the NRA board on Friday due to health reasons, and will not hold any position with the organization nor receive any further compensation after his last day, Jan. 31, its lawyers said.