The Powerful National Rifle Association stands sued by the lawsuit filed by Letitia James, the attorney general of New York. Its top 4 leaders are accused of participating in a fraud scheme that contributed to $64 million in losses and financed lavish lifestyle featuring private jet travel to exclusive resorts.
James seeks to close down the rifle association and states, “The NRA’s influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets. The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse, which is why today, we seek to dissolve the NRA because no organization is above the law.”
The four leaders accused in the lawsuit are:
Wayne LaPierre:
He is the NRA executive vice-president and chief executive and has led the group for 39 years. His well-known mantra that is always repeated after mass shootings in the US is, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
The lawsuit alleges him as “He has exploited the organization for his financial benefit and to continue, by use of a secret ‘poison pill contract’, his employment even after removal and ensuring NRA income for life; and to intimidate, punish, and expel anyone at a senior level which raised concerns about his conduct. The effect has been to divert millions of dollars away from the charitable mission.”
He has been accused of diverting NRA funds for “trip to the Bahamas to vacation on a yacht owned by the principal of numerous NRA vendors….costly black car services, gifts for favored friends.”
Wilson Philips:
Popularly known as “Woody,” he was a former treasurer and chief financial officer of the NRA for 26 years, and he retired in 2018.
The lawsuit describes “he is among the senior executives LaPierre handpicked to facilitate his misuse of charitable assets.” He and two other fellow defendants are described to be hired despite a lack of skills and experience.
“He has facilitated millions of dollars in entertainment and travel expenses incurred by NRA executives and being improperly billed to the group.
Joshua Powell:
He is a former NRA chief of staff and executive director of general operations.
The lawsuit reads, “Powell was fired by the NRA in January 2020 for falsifying expenses. He allegedly exploited his NRA credit card and ran up huge bills at a high-end Italian restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia.”
John Frazer:
He is the NRA corporate secretary and general counsel.
In the lawsuit, he is described as “a brief 18-months tenure in private practice and was unprepared to manage the legal and regulatory affairs of the BRA. He permitted the NRA to secretly board members through consulting arrangements that were neither disclosed to nor approved by, the NRA board.”
