Thread by @KlasfeldReports

Wayne LaPierre has now taken the stand in the NRA bankruptcy trial. Here is our preview story on his testimony, which will be updated throughout the day.

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James Sheehan, the @NewYorkStateAG's charities chief, is currently grilling him.

Q: Is it true you send no emails?
A: That's correct.

Q: Is it true that you send no texts?
A: That's correct.

Sheehan asks LaPierre about whether he filed the bankruptcy petition to dodge the NYAG suit.

"We filed this bankruptcy to look for a fair legal playing field where the the NRA can prosper and grow," LaPierre claims, calling the New York atmosphere toxic and weaponized.

Sheehan is the same lawyer who grilled LaPierre about his trips of the 108-foot yacht Illusions, which belonged to a Hollywood producer.

The NYAG says he did not disclose on conflict of interest forms.

From his deposition, described in the story at the top of the thread.

Q: Did you advise the other members of the board that you were filing for bankruptcy before you did so?

A: "No, we did not."

The NYAG's charities bureau chief is rattling off the NRA senior staff Wayne LaPierre did not inform that he was going to file for bankruptcy.

Throughout the NRA trial, counsel for the NYAG and Ackerman McQueen have been establishing Wayne LaPierre's control over the org and lack of consultation with other senior officials.

The general counsel, e.g., testified he didn't know the suit against AMcQ would be filed.

Sheehan is reading Wayne LaPierre's remarks that the NRA outperformed their projections in membership and were in a position of "maximum liquidity."

The NRA also reduced their debt.

(The NRA boasted of their financial health when it filed for bankruptcy.)

Questioning turns to Sea Girt LLC, the Texas corporation that N.Y. regulators claim Wayne LaPierre used as a "wholly owned shell company" to establish a toehold in the Lone Star State for bankruptcy proceedings.

Questioning of Wayne LaPierre:

Q: Sea Girt has no employees, correct?
A: That's correct.

Pressed by NYAG's counsel, LaPierre agrees he did not inform board members about the company.

Q: Sea Girt's assets exceed its debts, correct?
A: Correct.

NYAG's counsel asks whether he frequently visited Los Angeles before the COVID-19 pandemic hit to meet with Mr. McKenzie, the Hollywood producer.

Answering yes, LaPierre agrees that he flew there in a private jet and stayed in a Beverly Hills hotel.

Questioning turns to Wayne LaPierre's trips on McKenzie's yachts:

Q: You stayed on the Illusions, isn't that right, Mr. LaPierre?

A: Yes I did.

He asked whether he also stayed on another yacht called the Grand Illusion.

Yes, again.

LaPierre agreed that McKenzie paid for his lodging at the Atlantis resort too, "along with the other celebrities."

The NRA chief added he's not a celebrity.

The judge struck both answers as non-responsive, at the request of NYAG's counsel.

NYAG's counsel James Sheehan is having LaPierre review a conflict-of-interest former he said he signed.

LaPierre: "I did because I was living under incredible threat at the time."

Sheehan moves to strike everything after "I did."

Sustained.

LaPierre keeps getting chided by the NYAG and judge for adding little digressions like that.

His lawyer interjects to tell LaPierre that he will have the opportunity to answer his questions later.

Sheehan asks whether LaPierre offered to pay the McKenzies for the use of the yacht, the Illusions, in 2015.

LaPierre: "I did not."

NYAG asks about the hunting trips paid for by the show "Under Wild Skies," including a water buffalo hunt in Botswana.

LaPierre gets testy as he defends the airfare, licenses, and more.

"We were filming the television show 'Under Wild Skies' for NRA."

"That's why we were doing it, to project the NRA's image," LaPierre says, adding that it'd draw donors and get the group perceived as a hunting organization.

Judge Hale chides LaPierre for a monologue that had to pending question.

"Will you not make me keep saying that?"

10 minute recess.

Wayne LaPierre's testimony has resumed, with questioning about his trip to Beverley Hills and shopping there.

LaPierre is grilled about the NRA's ex-PR firm Ackerman McQueen paying for his pricey suits at a Beverly Hills clothing store, which he said was for TV appearances.

Q: Did you offer to pay Ackerman for the suits?
A: No.

Did the NRA pay Ackerman for the suits?
A. No.

The day's proceedings have ended, and the story at the top of the thread has been updated with a recap of LaPierre's testimony.