The second day of Wayne LaPierre's testimony in the NRA bankruptcy trial is about to begin.
Catch up on what happened yesterday with this recap, and follow my live coverage at @lawcrimenews.
lawandcrime.com/high-profile/n…
Catch up on what happened yesterday with this recap, and follow my live coverage at @lawcrimenews.
lawandcrime.com/high-profile/n…
James Sheehan, the charities bureau chief for @NewYorkStateAG, says that they plan to finish questioning LaPierre today.
James Sheehan starts questioning LaPierre about flights that he had to pay back in part.
Q: You don't know the basis for calculating percentage of the amount that you had to pay back?
A: No, I did not do the calculation.
Q: You don't know the basis for calculating percentage of the amount that you had to pay back?
A: No, I did not do the calculation.
NYAG's counsel to Wayne LaPierre
Q: You've flown exclusively by private charter for several years.
A: That's correct.
Q: You've flown exclusively by private charter for several years.
A: That's correct.
LaPierre testifies that he has picked up his niece on private flights, on the NRA's dime.
Sheehan asks whether the NRA paid tens of thousands of dollars for a hair stylist for Wayne LaPierre's wife.
"I don't know what the NRA paid for," LaPierre responds, before adding unresponsive commentary later stricken by the judge.
"I don't know what the NRA paid for," LaPierre responds, before adding unresponsive commentary later stricken by the judge.
NYAG's counsel to Wayne LaPierre:
Q: Were you disciplined for receiving excess benefits?
A: I learned something that I did not know.
(Counsel objects at answer as unresponsive, and LaPierre tries again.)
A: Yes, I was disciplined. I paid it back.
Q: Were you disciplined for receiving excess benefits?
A: I learned something that I did not know.
(Counsel objects at answer as unresponsive, and LaPierre tries again.)
A: Yes, I was disciplined. I paid it back.
Sheehan is now questioning LaPierre about Joshua Powell, the NRA's ex-second-in-command.
Questioning turns to Oliver North, who LaPierre acknowledges attended his wedding.
Note: They since had a falling out, with the NRA accusing North of plotting a coup attempt against the group's leadership.
Note: They since had a falling out, with the NRA accusing North of plotting a coup attempt against the group's leadership.
When NRA president, Oliver North sent a letter to the audit committee questioning billing by the Brewer firm & accusing LaPierre of financial improprieties.
Sheehan asks whether LaPierre opposed North's relection after that.
"This whole thing is a contrived narrative," LP snaps
Sheehan asks whether LaPierre opposed North's relection after that.
"This whole thing is a contrived narrative," LP snaps
NYAG's counsel James Sheehan has that defensive answer as non-responsive.
Judge Hale reminds LaPierre that the NRA's counsel will have the opportunity to question him.
Judge Hale reminds LaPierre that the NRA's counsel will have the opportunity to question him.
Questioning turns to Ackerman McQueen, the NRA's longtime PR firm, which is now also opposing the gun group's bankruptcy petition:
"I believe that they tried to extort me when I wouldn't back off on trying to see their books and records," LaPierre claimed.
"I believe that they tried to extort me when I wouldn't back off on trying to see their books and records," LaPierre claimed.
NYAG's Sheehan asks LaPierre about his travel and entertainment expenses for the NRA since 2015.
Q: It's over a million dollars isn't it?
A: I traveled all the time for the NRA. It could be in that range.
Q: It's over a million dollars isn't it?
A: I traveled all the time for the NRA. It could be in that range.
Sheehan asks whether some of the expenses were paid through the NRA's ex-PR firm Ackerman McQueen.
LaPierre concedes that's possible.
LaPierre concedes that's possible.
Same pattern:
Wayne LaPierre continues defensive outbursts in response to questions by NYAG's counsel. The judge chides him, and the NRA's own lawyer reminds him to stick to yes or no answers, when possible.
Wayne LaPierre continues defensive outbursts in response to questions by NYAG's counsel. The judge chides him, and the NRA's own lawyer reminds him to stick to yes or no answers, when possible.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
