Leaked Documents: NRA Racked Up $24 Million in Legal Bills

[Aim1]

Apparently Wayne Lapierre also spent $500k on himself or something.










https://www.thedailybeast.com/leaked-documents-nra-racked-up-dollar24-million-in-legal-bills-3

 

[Cump]

Over at thetruthaboutguns.com there is a write-up, with screen-shots of,the letters from North.

No doubt the NRA will be here in the future, in some form, but this instability and apparent malfeasance worries me.

 

[JohnKSa]

NRA Racked Up $24 Million in Legal Bills

What's typical for the NRA?

Without knowing that, it's hard to know if it is really "debilitating" or just business as usual.

 

[Kaybee]

All this monkeying around by the NRA leadership is putting our rights in danger!! The smug joy from the antis when they see these mess ups is really disheartening.

 

[Aim1]

All this monkeying around by the NRA leadership is putting our rights in danger!! The smug joy from the antis when they see these mess ups is really disheartening.

And they may lose their tax exempt status and are being investigated by the IRS.

 

[EIB0879]

And they may lose their tax exempt status and are being investigated by the IRS.

NY AG is investigating that as a thinly veiled political attack. I'm not sure how they can investigate it.

Dems in the House want the NRA investigated but I'm not sure how they can compel the IRS without investigating other groups.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

I was under the impression NYS had launched numerous lawsuits abd investigations into the NRA in hopes of bankrupting them?

 

[Odd Job]

The relevant question is: what legal matters arose, which required the NRA to engage with and expend monies on?

If those activities were in the interest of gun owners, then it is possible the money was well spent.

 

[AlexanderA]

The NRA is in big trouble, but we could see this coming from a mile away. The basic problem is the discrepancy between its stated mission (to protect gun rights) and the real mission of those in charge (to enrich themselves). The recent slant towards the political Right is just a byproduct of this second mission, because the ruling cabal has figured out that the Right is where the money is. They are running a scam, pure and simple.

Other pro-gun organizations must be strengthened immediately, so as to take the NRA's place. Hopefully they have more honest leadership. At this point, the NRA is a dead man walking.

Random examples: the NRA spent $274,000 (over a 10-year period) for designer suits for Wayne LaPierre. Considering his rumpled appearance at public hearings, he is not wearing $5,000 suits. The money is going elsewhere. Then we have the little matter of the $4,500 monthly apartment rent for an attractive 23-year-old intern... And the $1,000+ item for "Frankfurt airport assistance" on one of WLP's European trips. The list goes on and on, and I fear that the revelations so far are just the tip of the iceberg.

The odd thing is, with WLP's million-dollar-plus salary, he could afford to pay for such items on his own. This just shows the pettiness of the man, trying to squeeze out every last dime.

Any gun owners who have contributed to the NRA in the past should be rightly outraged.

 

[Punkinhead]

Is there an explanation for why WLP and his posse need to travel overseas? I've sent the NRA money for decades because I want them to promote safe shooting and protect my rights here in the US. How are boondoggles to Europe furthering those goals?

 

[EIB0879]

I don't understand why non-NRA members would be concerned . It doesn't get public funds. Funding comes from members and corporate sponsors. If there is fraud going on it should be addressed through civil and criminal courts. After that is proven, then go after the tax exempt status, if warranted.

 

[Yo Mama]

If true I'll finally decide to not renew my membership. I can live with a different opinion, but not fraud. I work hard for the little money I have, if it's being abused then I'm out.

 

[Punkinhead]

I don't understand why non-NRA members would be concerned .

Playing devil's advocate... If I knew that an organization that was lobbying Congress for something that disagreed with my political views was committing fraud I'd be very interested.

 

[AlexanderA]

If true I'll finally decide to not renew my membership. I can live with a different opinion, but not fraud.

Those of us with Life memberships don't have that option. We can send in a letter of resignation, but that may be moot as the organization itself may not exist much longer.

WLP will be lucky if he stays out of prison.

 

[AlexanderA]

How are boondoggles to Europe furthering those goals?

Don't forget the boondoggle trips to the Caribbean, ostensibly to look after the NRA's investments there. Why is the NRA investing in the Caribbean, again?

 

[Slamfire]

The NRA could lose its non profit status if NY can make the case that the organization is being run for the benefit of the managers. From what I have seen, management needs to be removed. The NRA is not Wayne and his crony contractors. It is us.

 

[AlexanderA]

What's typical for the NRA?

Without knowing that, it's hard to know if it is really "debilitating" or just business as usual.

The NRA has kept its finances opaque, on purpose. One window on them has been the organization's IRS Form 990 filings (for those who take the trouble to read them). There are plenty of disquieting things there, but now we're seeing the leaked documents starting to fill in the blanks. And the documents are being leaked because there has been a falling out among rival factions (North versus LaPierre). Nobody involved in this affair has clean hands. They were all vying for slices of the pie.

 

[BlueHeelerFl]

The NRA is in big trouble, but we could see this coming from a mile away. The basic problem is the discrepancy between its stated mission (to protect gun rights) and the real mission of those in charge (to enrich themselves). The recent slant towards the political Right is just a byproduct of this second mission, because the ruling cabal has figured out that the Right is where the money is. They are running a scam, pure and simple.

Other pro-gun organizations must be strengthened immediately, so as to take the NRA's place. Hopefully they have more honest leadership. At this point, the NRA is a dead man walking.

Random examples: the NRA spent $274,000 (over a 10-year period) for designer suits for Wayne LaPierre. Considering his rumpled appearance at public hearings, he is not wearing $5,000 suits. The money is going elsewhere. Then we have the little matter of the $4,500 monthly apartment rent for an attractive 23-year-old intern... And the $1,000+ item for "Frankfurt airport assistance" on one of WLP's European trips. The list goes on and on, and I fear that the revelations so far are just the tip of the iceberg.

The odd thing is, with WLP's million-dollar-plus salary, he could afford to pay for such items on his own. This just shows the pettiness of the man, trying to squeeze out every last dime.

Any gun owners who have contributed to the NRA in the past should be rightly outraged.

Just who on the political left should the NRA cater to? Every Democrat in power , and every Democrat running for the nomination in 2020, has called for more gun control and an AWB. The more moderate members of Congress follow the lead of the leadership most of the time, so supporting them is pointless.

As for the money, the left has just as much money if not more than the rich right. Most of the big new donors are the rich tech wiz kids who are all on the left.

If The NRA doesn't get donations from the right who will the fet them from, cause it sure won't be the keft

 

[BSA1]

Those of us with Life memberships don't have that option. We can send in a letter of resignation, but that may be moot as the organization itself may not exist much longer.

WLP will be lucky if he stays out of prison.

Why not stick to your principles and resign as HWB did?

You keep throwing groundless hand grenades.

 

[AlexanderA]

The NRA could lose its non profit status if NY can make the case that the organization is being run for the benefit of the managers. From what I have seen, management needs to be removed. The NRA is not Wayne and his crony contractors. It is us.

All very true. But LaPierre & co have rigged the NRA's internal governing system so that it's virtually impossible to remove them. The only alternative is for the organization to cease to exist, so that it can be recreated from scratch. Or for some other currently existing organization to take its place.

 

[Pat Riot]

Gee, ya think those legal bills might have anything to do with fighting for our rights?...

 

[Punkinhead]

Gee, ya think those legal bills might have anything to do with fighting for our rights?...

Maybe, maybe not. That's why we need some transparency.

I know for certain that trips to Russia and quarter million dollar wardrobes don't have anything to do with fighting for our rights.

 

[AlexanderA]

Why not stick to your principles and resign as HWB did?

Resigning from the NRA would be like spitting in the wind. A meaningless gesture, and nobody would give a damn. It's not even worth the postage for sending a letter.

You keep throwing groundless hand grenades.

Hardly groundless. There is currently a 19-page thread on this over on ar15.com. These are pro-gun activists (fanatics?), and they're disgusted by WLP and what has become of the NRA. Go read that thread and weep. All the documents are reproduced there.

 

[BSA1]

The relevant question is: what legal matters arose, which required the NRA to engage with and expend monies on?

If those activities were in the interest of gun owners, then it is possible the money was well spent.

Exactly.

The NRA is involved in a lot of lawsuits in different States fighting for our gun rights. I wonder for example how much money their legal expenses are so far in the lawsuit against NYC?

As for Ollie North you can’t throw mud without getting some on yourself. A leopard change not change his spots. He ratted on President Reagan and now ratting again. As Cohen is learning no one likes a rat after the media loses interest.

Anyway it is best to get the mudslinging over with this year so those of us that realize how close we are to losing our gun rights can unify. As it stands right now only Mitch O’Connell and President Trump are preventing severe gun laws from being passed.

 

[AlexanderA]

Gee, ya think those legal bills might have anything to do with fighting for our rights?...

Absolutely not. The so-called "legal fees" were a kickback slush fund. Very few bona fide legal services were being provided.