Former NRA CEO must pay $4.3 million for misappropriating the organization’s funds, court rules

Crime & CourtsFormer NRA CEO must pay $4.3 million for misappropriating the organization’s funds, court rulesThe five-judge panel also upheld a 10-year ban prohibiting Wayne LaPierre from serving as an officer or director of the NRA.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Former NRA CEO Wayne La Pierre arrives at state Supreme Court in New York City in 2024.John Lamparski / Sipa USA via AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 4, 2026, 3:22 PM EDTBy Chloe AtkinsA New York appellate court has upheld a $4.3 million judgment against former National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre, who was found liable in a civil corruption case for misappropriating the organization’s funds.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The five-judge panel also upheld a 10-year ban prohibiting LaPierre from serving as an officer or director of the NRA, rejecting his contention that the restriction violated his First Amendment rights.“He remains a member of the NRA and is not precluded from making any public statements or involving himself in fundraising or other outreach,” the panel said. “Neither does the monetary restitution amount constitute a fine. Instead, it serves the remedial purpose of reimbursing the NRA for the losses LaPierre caused, making it compensatory in nature.” In a statement to NBC News, Kent Correll, an attorney for LaPierre, said, “We’ve already won the most important parts of this case. We intend to seek further review, and we are confident that we’ll prevail fully in the end.”The ruling was a significant victory for New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued the NRA in 2020, accusing LaPierre and other current and former executives of flouting state laws and internal policies to enrich themselves. The appellate court said the attorney general had demonstrated probable cause to investigate and sue, citing public reports of malfeasance at the NRA that predated the investigation and ampl...