The former leader of the National Rifle Association (NRA) Wayne LaPierre has been found liable for misusing millions of dollars of the organisation’s money to fund his extravagant lifestyle. New York attorney general Letitia James led the prosecution team; the jury found LaPierre liable for $5.4m million. He had already paid back $1 million.

“In New York, you cannot get away with corruption and greed, no matter how powerful or influential you think you may be,” James said in a post on X. “Everyone, even the NRA and Wayne LaPierre, must play by the same rules.”

In 2021, the NRA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The move came amid a legal battle with the New York Attorney General’s office, which had filed a lawsuit seeking to dissolve the organization over allegations of financial mismanagement and misuse of funds.

The bankruptcy filing raised questions about the NRA’s financial stability and governance practices. It also led to internal leadership disputes and this investigation into allegations of financial impropriety within the organisation.

Who is Wayne LaPierre?

Wayne LaPierre is a prominent American gun rights advocate who served as the CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA for several decades. Born on 8 November, 1949, in Schenectady, New York, LaPierre became a central figure in the debate over gun control in the United States.

LaPierre began his career in the NRA in 1977, initially serving as a lobbyist. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the organization’s chief executive officer in 1991. During his tenure, LaPierre has been a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and has actively opposed any legislation perceived as infringing upon gun rights. He resigned at the beginning of 2024 ahead of this trial.

LaPierre married Susan Znidorka in 1998. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his fortune to be $20 million.