In a stunning admission, the National Rifle Association filed a document with the Internal Revenue Service in which it admitted current and previous executives of the group illegally directed funds to enrich themselves, the Washington Post reports.
The filing states that NRA leaders “became aware during 2019 of a significant diversion of its assets,” during which some executives received “excess benefits.” The term “excess benefits” is a term of art within tax law, a euphemism meaning that they enriched themselves by embezzling funds or misusing organizational money.
Earlier this year, the Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, filed suit to de-charter the NRA, a non-profit legal entity in New York State, and prevent some of its officers from ever holding a position with a non-profit board again. The action specifically targeted NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre and others.
The NRA reported that LaPierre has attempted to remedy the situation by revising expense reports and reimbursing the organization $300,000. There is no record of what expenses that money was supposed to cover nor what expenses were improperly claimed.
“As its tax filing demonstrates, the NRA is committed to strict compliance with its accounting controls and good-governance practices,” said Charles Cotton, an NRA vice president and audit committee chair told the Post.