The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Internal Revenue Service “is investigating longtime National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre for possible criminal tax fraud related to his personal taxes, according to people familiar with the matter.
Fox Business picked up the story, which says LaPierre was paid $2.2 million by NRA in 2018, and between 2011 and 2018 he was paid $11.2 million.
The NRA is also under investigation by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. In a civil lawsuit filed in August, James alleged LaPierre had taken “taking millions of dollars of allegedly undisclosed compensation from the NRA and its vendors, in the form of free yacht trips, private jet flights for his family, exotic safaris and other benefits,” the story said. At the time, James told reporters she was referring the matter to the IRS, Fox Business and the WSJ noted.
An attorney representing LaPierre—P. Kent Correll—was quoted stating, “We’re not aware of any inquiry, so it would be premature for us to comment.”
Likewise, NRA “outside attorney” William A. Brewer III is also quoted.
“The NRA is not aware of any IRS inquiry but, of course, will fully cooperate with any appropriate requests for assistance,” he said.
The WSJ noted that it could be determined “how far along the investigation is, and such probes can end with no charges filed.”
NRA has been under steady attack for more than 18 months after allegations regarding “lavish expenses” surfaced prior to the organization’s annual meeting in Indianapolis.
NRA spent millions of dollars in 2016 to help elect Donald Trump in 2016, which infuriated Democrats and gun control proponents. The NRA is also supporting Trump’s re-election effort.
LaPierre has served as the NRA’s executive vice president for almost 30 years, the longest-running term of anyone in that position. Under his leadership, NRA has become a political powerhouse, fighting extremist gun control efforts on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures.
NRA also led efforts at the state level to adopt preemption laws, concealed carry reform and reciprocity agreements under which states recognize the carry permits and licenses issued by other states, same as driver’s licenses. One result of those efforts has been the tremendous increase in the number of citizens licensed to carry. The Crime Prevention Research Center now estimates some 19.4 million citizens are now licensed to carry concealed, and that’s not counting states with so-called “constitutional carry” under which a license or permit is not needed in order to carry firearms.
Membership during LaPierre’s tenure, has climbed dramatically to some 5 million members, and the NRA is considered one of the most effective lobbying organizations in the country.
