The longtime head of the National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, misspent millions of dollars of the organization’s money, using the funds to pay for an extravagant lifestyle that included exotic getaways and trips on private planes and superyachts, a New York jury determined Friday.

The jury found LaPierre, 74, must repay almost $4.4 million to the powerful gun rights group that he led for three decades, while the NRA’s retired finance chief, Wilson Phillips, owes $2 million. Jurors also found that the NRA failed to properly manage its assets, omitted or misrepresented information in its tax filings and violated whistleblower protections under New York law.

LaPierre, who announced his resignation from the NRA on the eve of the trial, sat stone-faced in the front row of the courtroom as the verdict was read aloud, and did not speak to reporters on the way out.

  • Vespair@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    Whoa, are you trying to tell me that the awful guy who actively preyed on people’s fears and insecurities while furthering dangerous assumptions and stereotypes was actually a self-serving grifter this whole time and not a real champion of personal freedom?

    :surprisedpikachu:

    • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      He championed his own personal freedom to spend the money on himself. Honestly I think he should have spent more on it that way and less on buying lawmakers and TV ads.

  • Rob@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    The only way to stop a bad guy with an embezzlement is a good guy with a forensic accountant.

  • pulaskiwasright@lemmy.ml
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    9 months ago

    What are some good ways to grift idiot conservatives that don’t harm everyone else? It seems like such an easy way to get rich and everyone’s doing it. Asking for a friend. Also I don’t want to be caught.

    • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Just sell them a gimmick like Trump Bucks. They’re morons and won’t realize the lack of value until after they bought an obvious memorabilia scam.

      The hard part is convincing them you’re as dumb as they are.

  • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    This guy and the NRA have a lot of blood on their hands. Any money headed that way is misspent and dangerous.

  • Corigan@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    Nah the number is too low, he “misspent” wayyyy more than that on himself and his cronies.

    I

  • Nobody@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    The only thing that can stop a bad guy from stealing money is a good guy stealing the money first.