(USNewsBreak.com) – Wayne LaPierre is well known as a Second Amendment rights proponent, especially considering he has led the National Rifle Association (NRA) for more than three decades. During this time, he was the subject of much public scrutiny as scandals and alleged corruption came to light. Soon, he will face off against New York Attorney General Letitia James in a case that could see him ousted.
The investigation into the NRA began four years ago. After 18 months, AG James accused the group of fostering “a culture of self-dealing, mismanagement and negligent oversight,” according to The Hill. She sued the organization in 2020, claiming the senior leaders, including LaPierre, now 74, abused money meant for charitable contributions and instead redirected it to luxuries for themselves, to the tune of $64 million.
A lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general against Wayne LaPierre and three other N.R.A. insiders accuses the gun-rights group of decades of corruption. https://t.co/qPRhU9yG8r
— NYT Metro (@NYTMetro) January 2, 2024
The lawsuit is now moving forward in court, with James seeking to remove LaPierre from the group and impose financial penalties for abusing donations. She originally sought to shut the group down, a move the courts denied in 2022. The lawsuit names three other defendants, including Wilson Phillips, who formerly served as the finance chief; Joshua Powell, who formerly served as LaPierre’s chief of staff; and the group’s general counsel, John Frazer.
Among the alleged abuses of funds, the lawsuit claims LaPierre billed multiple luxuries, including a $40,000 charge at a Beverly Hills boutique, more than $250,000 in travel, and a $26,000 monthly retainer paid to his personal travel agent. Should the suit recover any money resulting from the case, it will return to the NRA.
William Brewer III, the lead attorney for the NRA, said the case brought by James relies on “tales from the crypt,” as the organization has addressed most of the practices in question. Additionally, the witnesses James is calling to testify against the group and LaPierre are no longer associated with the organization.
Jury selection has already started, and legal experts expect the case to last between six and eight weeks.
Copyright 2024, USNewsBreak.com
