New York Attorney General Letitia James announced another legal victory in the state’s case against the National Rifle Association and its former leadership, as an appellate court rejected an attempt by former Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre to overturn a judgment stemming from a civil corruption case.
The ruling by the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department of the New York State Supreme Court leaves intact a December 2024 court judgment requiring LaPierre to repay $4.3 million to the NRA and barring him from serving as an officer or director of the organization for 10 years.
Attorney General Letitia James said the decision reinforces a jury’s findings that LaPierre and other senior NRA officials improperly used organizational funds for personal benefit.
James first filed suit against the NRA and several current and former executives in August 2020, alleging they violated state law by mismanaging charitable assets and contributing to the loss of tens of millions of dollars.
The case went to trial in 2024. Just before proceedings began, LaPierre announced his retirement after more than three decades as the NRA’s chief executive. In February 2024, a jury found the NRA, LaPierre, former Chief Financial Officer Wilson “Woody” Phillips, and former General Counsel and current Corporate Secretary John Frazer had violated New York law.
Jurors concluded the NRA failed to properly oversee charitable funds and protect whistleblowers, while also finding that the organization and Frazer submitted false regulatory filings. The jury determined LaPierre and Phillips caused approximately $7.4 million in financial harm to the organization.
Following a separate bench trial, a judge ordered governance reforms within the NRA and required LaPierre to repay $4.35 million. Phillips was ordered to repay $2 million, plus interest. The court also imposed the 10-year ban preventing LaPierre from serving as an officer or director of the NRA or any organization under its direct control.
The appellate court’s decision means those penalties and reforms remain in place.
