(RepublicanPress.org) – In February, former National Rifle Association (NRA) head Wayne LaPierre was found liable in a New York court of law for misspending millions of NRA money to support his extravagant lifestyle. The jury found that LaPierre had to pay back nearly $4.4 million to the NRA, and the group’s retired finance chief, Wilson Phillips, had to pay back $2 million.
On July 9, NY Attorney General Letitia James announced that Phillips was banned for 10 years from managing money for any not-for-profit organization in the state. After that, the former fiduciary has to attend training if he wants to perform such duties again in New York. Meanwhile, Phillips still has to pay the NRA $2 million for helping LaPierre misspend the organization’s money. The settlement means that the former finance chief will be exempt from the next part of James’ civil lawsuit against the NRA and some of its former executives.
Following the decision to ban Phillips, the NY AG released a statement. She said the former finance chief “oversaw and allowed financial mismanagement and corruption at the NRA” for decades. James said the punishment shows that her “office will hold anyone and everyone” accountable for financial crimes and “abusing their power.”
NRA attorney William A. Brewer III seemed unhappy about the court’s decision regarding Phillips. He said all the ruling did was muddy the record and further the AG’s motive of “promot[ing] her own interests” against NRA members. He added that the ban didn’t do anything to help collect the millions that Phillips owes to the organization.
Originally, James sued the NRA and its executives, seeking to dissolve the organization, but Manhattan Judge Joel Cohen said the allegations in the suit didn’t warrant such extreme action. Now, the AG is working to have the organization’s charitable assets administration monitored by a third party. James said the people of NY “deserve to know” where their donations are going.
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