New York Attorney General Letitia James is seeking further action against the National Rifle Association (NRA) in a civil lawsuit, including the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee the organization’s finances and a ban on former CEO Wayne LaPierre from returning to the group. The trial, which entered its second phase, saw James arguing for additional restrictions to be imposed on John Frazer, the NRA’s current corporate secretary and former general counsel. The attorney general’s office and the NRA were contacted for comment on the matter.
In the first phase of the trial, a New York jury found the NRA and LaPierre liable in a civil corruption trial. LaPierre was accused of misusing millions of dollars for personal expenses, such as expensive vacations and travel on yachts and private planes. The jury also determined that the NRA failed to manage its assets properly, misrepresented information in tax filings, and violated whistleblower protections. James called the jury’s decision a “major victory” and emphasized that corruption and greed would not be tolerated, regardless of power or influence. LaPierre was ordered to repay nearly $4.4 million to the NRA, while another former executive owed the group $2 million.
After the initial verdict, James sued the NRA in 2020, alleging financial misconduct by LaPierre and other executives. Although she initially sought to dissolve the organization, a Manhattan judge ruled against this move in 2022. The recent legal proceedings have focused on further penalties and oversight measures, with the attorney general pushing for an independent monitor to supervise the NRA’s financial activities. Despite the organization’s efforts toward internal oversight, including annual audits and hiring a compliance officer, a governance expert testified that these measures were insufficient.
The second phase of the trial is being decided by Judge Joel M. Cohen, rather than a jury. The proceedings are expected to last around two weeks as the court considers additional restrictions on the NRA and its executives. In a separate case last week, a settlement agreement with another former executive, Wilson Phillips, was reached, barring him from serving as a fiduciary of any not-for-profits in New York for a decade. The legal battles between the attorney general’s office and the NRA highlight ongoing efforts to hold powerful organizations accountable for financial misconduct and ensure proper oversight of their operations.
As the trial continues, Attorney General Letitia James is committed to pursuing accountability and transparency within the NRA and its leadership. The calls for an independent monitor and restrictions on former executives signal a determination to address past financial improprieties and prevent similar behavior in the future. With ongoing legal battles and challenges to traditional governance structures, the case against the NRA represents a larger effort to uphold principles of ethics and accountability in all organizations, regardless of their size or influence.
