A 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.
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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 ample evidence uncovered during it.
James welcomed the decision requiring LaPierre to repay $4.3 million to the organization. “Wayne LaPierre and other senior NRA leaders broke the law by funneling millions of dollars in lavish perks to themselves and their families,” she said. “This decision upholds the jury’s verdict and is another victory in our efforts to ensure that LaPierre is held accountable for his illegal self-dealing.”
LaPierre has already repaid the NRA at least $1 million.
A jury found in 2024 that the NRA failed to properly oversee its operations and assets from March 2014 to May 2022. Jurors concluded that LaPierre and others diverted millions of dollars from the organization for personal travel and expenses, as well as no-show contracts used to buy people’s silence.
LaPierre was the NRA’s CEO and executive vice president for more than 30 years before he resigned in 2024, citing health issues.
CORRECTION (June 4, 2026, 6:35 p.m. ET): A photo caption on a previous version of this article misstated Wayne LaPierre’s role at the NRA. He was its CEO and executive vice president, not its president.
