As dedicated NRA supporters, we know it’s maddening to witness the betrayal from within our own ranks. The latest news reveals the agreed-upon settlement that Wilson “Woody” Phillips, the former CFO of the NRA, confessed to unethical conduct, further deepening the trust issues we’ve had with the organization’s leadership.
Phillips’ Deceitful Contract
Without disclosing their relationship, Phillips admitted to awarding a $1.36 million contract to HomeTelos, a tech company run by his then-girlfriend Nancy Richards. This was a blatant violation of NRA policies designed to prevent conflicts of interest. It took whistleblowers raising the alarm for Phillips to finally come clean about his actions long after the contract had ended.
Shielding LaPierre’s Extravagance
Phillips didn’t just stop at self-serving contracts. Among other things, Phillips was accused of approving invoices for LaPierre’s private jet flights to the Bahamas; facilitating payments to contractors owned by LaPierre’s friends; and allowing an arrangement through which the NRA paid back its longtime advertising agency, Ackerman McQueen, for travel, makeup and other expenses it covered for LaPierre and his wife. He was a key player in hiding Wayne LaPierre’s outrageous spending from the NRA’s internal controls. LaPierre, with Phillips’ assistance, misused millions of dollars on luxury travel, and even yacht trips. This was money meant to protect our Second Amendment rights, not fund their extravagant lifestyles.
$2 Million In Damages To The NRA
Now, Phillips is facing the consequences. He’s been banned from managing any not-for-profit’s finances in New York for the next ten years and owes $2 million in damages to the NRA. This settlement spares him from participating in the trial’s second phase but does little to restore our trust.
The Bigger Picture
This scandal is just the latest in a series of revelations about mismanagement at the NRA. We’ve seen how LaPierre, Phillips, and other top executives have abused their positions and our donations. The jury recently found LaPierre guilty of spending millions in NRA funds on personal luxuries and ordered him to repay almost $4.4 million. This betrayal cuts deep, especially for those of us who have invested our time, money, and trust in the NRA’s mission.
Taking Back Our Organization
As the trial continues, Attorney General Letitia James is pushing for measures to ensure this kind of corruption doesn’t happen again. She’s seeking an independent monitor for the NRA’s finances and wants to ban LaPierre from any leadership roles in New York charities. Manhattan Judge Joel Cohen will decide the remaining issues in the case beginning July 15th, 2024, including whether former LaPierre and ex-general counsel John Frazer should be barred from charitable organizations in the state.
For us, the rank-and-file members. We need to reclaim our organization from these corrupt individuals and ensure our contributions are used to fight for our rights, not to bankroll the lavish lifestyles of a few dishonest leaders. It’s time for a thorough cleanup and a return to the principles that made the NRA a powerful defender of the Second Amendment. Let’s demand accountability and integrity from those who represent us.
Would it be possible for members to launch a class action lawsuit against the NRA and its board of directors for the purpose of recovering monies sent by members that was fraudulently used for the personal gain of executives?
Who didn’t see that? Probably the same people that still think Buyden can & should win re-election. NRA……Never Fking again!!!
With the change in leadership all i see is Good Old Boys securing their Power and money. The hand picked directors and leaders need to be put on notice by all Members to a line with Membership not in in the back office. The longer someone is in power the more the God Syndrome takes control. Leaders then think they can do anything they want. I would love to see a email sent to the head office of the NRA making them aware that the membership is watching what they do, the Membership controls the incoming Money. It the Money… Read more »