New York judge issues 10-year ban to former NRA head Wayne LaPierre

NPR | By The Associated Press

Published July 30, 2024 at 1:20 AM EDT

Wayne LaPierre, former CEO of the National Rifle Association, waves to someone as he leaves a courthouse in New York, Monday, July 29, 2024. A New York judge declined to appoint an outside monitor to oversee the finances and internal policies of the National Rifle Association. But he said he would bar LaPierre, the group's former leader, from holding a paid position in the organization for a decade.

NEW YORK — A New York judge on Monday banned Wayne LaPierre, the former head of the National Rifle Association, from holding a paid position with the organization for a decade, but declined to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the gun rights group.

The split decision from Judge Joel Cohen came on the final day of arguments in the second stage of a civil trial brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The first phase of the trial, decided in February by a Manhattan jury, found LaPierre and another deputy liable for misspending millions of dollars on lavish trips and other personal expenses.

Ruling from the bench, Cohen said the state’s request for a monitor was not the correct remedy, suggesting the oversight mechanism would be “time-consuming, disruptive and will impose significant costs on the NRA without corresponding benefits.”

Cohen also said he had concerns about “speech-chilling government intrusion on the affairs of the organization.”

He said the same First Amendment concerns did not apply to whether LaPierre could return to the organization anytime soon.

“This relief is about the privilege, not the right, to serve as an officer or director of a New York not-for-profit,” he said.