NRA chief Wayne LaPierre is testifying in the bankruptcy trial again—this time, friendlier questioning by a lawyer from his own organization.
In case you missed the more contentious round weeks ago, hear audio highlights on my @LawCrimeNews podcast: art19.com/shows/objectio…
In case you missed the more contentious round weeks ago, hear audio highlights on my @LawCrimeNews podcast: art19.com/shows/objectio…
Just a note on the embedded player at the top of the thread by @ART19co:
The interface allows you to subscribe to your listening platform of choice on this drop-down menu. Is your fav not on this list?
Let me know what you use in the replies.
The interface allows you to subscribe to your listening platform of choice on this drop-down menu. Is your fav not on this list?
Let me know what you use in the replies.
Back to LaPierre's testimony—
Some of the q-s by the NRA's lawyer Greg Garman:
How many hours a week do you work as the organization's executive vice president?
How much of your work is forward facing rather than in the office?
You brought up friends dinners. What are those?
Some of the q-s by the NRA's lawyer Greg Garman:
How many hours a week do you work as the organization's executive vice president?
How much of your work is forward facing rather than in the office?
You brought up friends dinners. What are those?
Running theme of the answers:
It's not like how "the media" portrays it.
LaPierre says he works hard.
He says he needs to appeal to the mainstream.
As I said, much friendlier questioning, after heavy grilling by the NYAG's counsel and others weeks ago.
It's not like how "the media" portrays it.
LaPierre says he works hard.
He says he needs to appeal to the mainstream.
As I said, much friendlier questioning, after heavy grilling by the NYAG's counsel and others weeks ago.
Interesting moment:
During the original questioning, presiding Judge Hale repeatedly chided Wayne LaPierre for non-responsive answers.
Hale just did so again to LaPierre for long-winded responses, with the parties on a time crunch.
During the original questioning, presiding Judge Hale repeatedly chided Wayne LaPierre for non-responsive answers.
Hale just did so again to LaPierre for long-winded responses, with the parties on a time crunch.
LaPierre testifies about his goal to "get the NRA in front of the hunting community as a hunting organization."
Of course, the New Yorker and The Trace's recent scoop about his botched elephant hunt in Botswana does not come up here: newyorker.com/news/news-desk…
Of course, the New Yorker and The Trace's recent scoop about his botched elephant hunt in Botswana does not come up here: newyorker.com/news/news-desk…
Garman finishes his questioning.
NYAG charities bureau chief James Sheehan takes over, with the judge admonishing all parties to keep it speedy because LaPierre's already testified some six hours.
Sheehan grills LaPierre about his fiduciary duties under NY charity law.
NYAG charities bureau chief James Sheehan takes over, with the judge admonishing all parties to keep it speedy because LaPierre's already testified some six hours.
Sheehan grills LaPierre about his fiduciary duties under NY charity law.
LaPierre calls his compensation "reasonable."
Sheehan shows a document showing he was going to get $1.3 million in 2019 and $1.5 million every year between 2020 and 2025, in an April 30, 2018 message with the subject "Contract Extension."
Asked if it was approved by the board, LaPierre answers no—then tries to add more.
Asked if it was approved by the board, LaPierre answers no—then tries to add more.
Sheehan cuts off the non-responsive part of the answer.
Judge Hale chides him again that he'll get off the stand much faster if he just answers the questions.
Judge Hale chides him again that he'll get off the stand much faster if he just answers the questions.
The NRA's questioning was supposed to advance a theory that LaPierre steered a "course correction" on the group in 2017.
NYAG's Sheehan notes that the contract post-dated the alleged course correction.
NYAG's Sheehan notes that the contract post-dated the alleged course correction.
NYAG questioning over.
Lawyer Mike Gruber, from the NRA's ex-PR firm Ackerman McQueen, estimates 10 minutes of questioning.
He's up now.
Lawyer Mike Gruber, from the NRA's ex-PR firm Ackerman McQueen, estimates 10 minutes of questioning.
He's up now.
Gruber hones in on LaPierre's testimony that he hoped to align the NRA with "mainstream America."
Q: Not to ignore the elephant in the room, but let's talk about elephants.
He goes there!
Q: Not to ignore the elephant in the room, but let's talk about elephants.
He goes there!
LaPierre: "I understand that there have been newspaper articles."
"I haven't read them," he adds.
Gruber asks if the consensus is that hunters and non-hunters were upset by the video that was released about his hunt.
"I haven't read them," he adds.
Gruber asks if the consensus is that hunters and non-hunters were upset by the video that was released about his hunt.
Pressed by the judge about relevance, Gruber says that it shows that LaPierre "hasn't done a good job at all" on connecting with mainstream America.
NRA's lawyer calls the line of questioning "highly objectionable."
Though he disagrees with that phrase, Judge Hale cuts it off.
NRA's lawyer calls the line of questioning "highly objectionable."
Though he disagrees with that phrase, Judge Hale cuts it off.
Judge Hale: I don't think we need to go there Mr. Gruber.
ICYMI: The wrap-up of the second round of testimony lawandcrime.com/high-profile/t…
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
