(IntegrityTimes.com) – New York Democratic Attorney General Letitia James has been relentless in her pursuit to dissolve the National Rifle Association (NRA). Back in 2020, James filed a lawsuit against the NRA and four individuals, which included former NRA official Joshua Powell. She announced on January 5 that Powell agreed to a settlement with her office. The settlement agreement states that Powell “breached his fiduciary duties and failed to administer the charitable assets entrusted to his care.” He admitted to using the funds to benefit himself and his family. He agreed to testify at the trial, which began on January 8. Powell will also pay $100,000 to the NRA for the harm he caused and will no longer be allowed to do any nonprofit work.
Just three days before the trial was set to begin, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation, effective on January 31. LaPierre has overseen daily operations at the NRA since 1991. James accused him of using charitable funds to take exotic trips and fly on private jets to places like Dubai and Greece. In his statement, LaPierre cited unnamed health concerns as his reason for resigning. His attorneys later divulged that LaPierre had been suffering from Lyme’s Disease for many years. However, the NRA submitted a court filing the weekend before the trial began, claiming that LaPierre’s resignation was proof of a “course correction.” The filing claimed that the NRA was victimized by LaPierre, but James was not convinced.
In response, James’s special counsel Monica Connell submitted a filing, accusing the NRA of throwing LaPierre under the bus to give the impression that it was cleaning up its act. Connell argued that the NRA should not be allowed to use LaPierre’s resignation as part of its defense during the trial.
During opening statements on January 8, Connell said that she would prove the NRA’s ardent defense of LaPierre and show how he was held in the highest regard. She will also detail LaPierre’s lavish lifestyle, seeking to prove that he redirected millions of dollars of charitable funds to himself and his friends.
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