New York, NY – Joshua Powell, a former chief of staff to Wayne LaPierre, has agreed to pay a settlement of $100,000 in connection with a civil lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general’s office. The lawsuit, which also includes former CEO Wayne LaPierre as a defendant, alleges financial corruption within the National Rifle Association (NRA), a gun-rights organization.
As part of the settlement announced on Saturday, Powell admitted to failing to fulfill his fiduciary responsibilities and misusing charitable funds. This admission of wrongdoing further supports the attorney general’s allegations against the NRA and its senior leaders.
The New York attorney general’s office sued the NRA after accusing its senior management of misusing millions of dollars for personal expenses such as private jets, expensive meals, and trips to the Bahamas. The lawsuit emphasizes that as a not-for-profit charity registered in New York, the NRA had an obligation to use its funds for charitable purposes.
The NRA and its senior officials have attempted, but failed, to have the lawsuit dismissed and to change the trial venue. In January 2021, the NRA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but the petition was rejected by a Texas court as being filed in bad faith.
Wayne LaPierre, who has been the head of the NRA since 1991, announced his resignation citing health concerns. The resignation, set to take effect on January 31, comes right before the scheduled start of the civil trial against the NRA and its senior management.
LaPierre is known for his extreme right-wing rhetoric in opposition to gun-control legislation. For instance, after the mass shooting at Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, he famously stated that “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” while advocating for armed guards in schools.
The civil trial is set to begin on Monday, and the attorney general’s office is hopeful that justice will be served. These recent developments, including Powell’s settlement and LaPierre’s resignation, validate the long-standing allegations of financial corruption within the NRA.