They concluded that he had caused roughly $5.4 million worth of harm to the nonprofit group's finances — though they also found that LaPierre had already repaid about $1 million.
LaPierre sat in the courtroom looking on as the jury verdict was read and later declined to comment as he left the courthouse. His legal team said it plans to appeal.
The lawsuit also named NRA general counsel and secretary John Frazer and former chief financial officer Wilson "Woody" Phillips.
Jurors found Phillips liable for $2 million in damages. While they concluded that Frazer acted inappropriately, they verdict found no measurable financial harm.
"For years, Wayne LaPierre used charitable dollars to fund his lavish lifestyle, spending millions on luxury travel, expensive clothes, insider contracts, and other perks for himself and his family," James said in a statement. "But today, after years of rampant corruption and self-dealing, Wayne LaPierre and the NRA are finally being held accountable."
The decline of NRA as a political force
LaPierre spent three decades growing the NRA's political and lobbying influence. Even as mass shootings became commonplace, LaPierre rejected attempts to change gun policy, branding gun control proponents as enemies of freedom and using the threat of firearms regulation to fundraise.His resignation was announced just days before the trial began, with the NRA instead citing health as the reason for his departure.
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Longtime NRA leader Wayne LaPierre steps down
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Former top NRA official admits wrongdoing in New York corruption case
The NRA's grip on politics has weakened in recent years as it's faced declining membership and revenue, and concerns within the group over leadership's direction and misuse of funds.After James' office launched an investigation into the NRA's financial misconduct, the attorney general filed the corruption lawsuit against the organization in 2020.
The NRA tried declare bankruptcy in 2021, but a judge dismissed the group's petition, ruling that the filing was not made in good faith.
The NRA won a legal victory in 2022 when a judge denied James' bid to dissolve the organization, but the case against the NRA was allowed to moved forward.
