Judge bans Wayne LaPierre from serving in NRA for 10 years, but won’t appoint monitor

A New York judge on Monday banned former National Rifle Association (NRA) leader Wayne LaPierre from serving in a paid capacity for the gun rights group for the next ten years, while also refused to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the organization.

The ruling came as part of the second phase of a civil trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) stemming from a lawsuit to remove LaPierre over allegations of tax fraud.

Judge Joel Cohen, in court Monday, said the state’s request for a monitor was not the solution, saying it would be “time-consuming, disruptive and would impose significant costs on the NRA without corresponding benefits,” the Associated Press reported.

This comes months after a Manhattan jury found that LaPierre, along with other gun rights group leaders, embezzled millions of dollars for lavish personal trips and other questionable expenses.

LaPierre, who left the NRA in early January, was ordered to pay $4.3 million in damages. The jury found he caused $5.4 million in damage to the organization, but had already repaired more than $1 million.

The organization’s retired former chief financial officer, Wilson Phillips, was ordered to pay $2 million to the organization in the February ruling.

Cohen reportedly said on Monday that he had concerns about “government intrusion into the organization’s affairs” but that the same First Amendment concerns did not apply to the question of whether LaPierre would be able to return to the women’s rights group. weapons soon, the AP reported.

“This relief has to do with the privilege, not the right, to serve as an officer or director of a New York nonprofit organization,” he said, according to the news outlet.

This comes as the NRS struggles with declining membership and financial concerns, including an attempted bankruptcy in 2021.

In court on Monday, LaPierre told Cohen that appointing a monitor to oversee the group’s finances would be “tantamount to sticking a knife into the heart of the organization and twisting it,” the AP reported.

The NRA celebrated Cohen’s decision against appointing a monitor and said it “remains positioned for a bright future.” in a statement after the decision.

The NRA said it will comply with Cohen’s recommendation that the group and the New York attorney general’s office consent to further governance reforms and said it will suggest additional changes.

Sarah Rogers, an attorney for the NRA, said in court that the group had already established new controls since the jury’s verdict in February, which included hiring new board members and creating a new compliance team, the AP said.

Cohen said the NRA’s changes following the February decision were “decidedly mixed” and claimed the group’s leadership showed “a stunning lack of accountability” for mismanagement.

“We recognize the importance of the jury’s findings and will continue our commitment to good governance,” said NRA President Bob Barr, who “praised the Association’s millions of loyal members who have never lost faith in the organization and its commitment to protect freedom.”

The Hill has reached out to the New York Attorney General’s office for further comment.

Before stepping down, LaPierre served as the group’s CEO and executive vice president for more than three decades.

Although LaPierre denied any wrongdoing, he admitted during the trial that he used company funds for personal travel and gifts.

The Associated Press contributed.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story