The National Rifle Association’s (NRA) CEO, Wayne LaPierre, has been caught in yet another scandal after leaked documents published online revealed that he spent more than $542,000 from the organization’s funds in lavish personal expenses, including $39,000 for shopping at a clothing store in one day, $18,300 for a car and driver in Europe, and $13,800 in rent payments for an intern.
The anonymously posted documents are genuine, a source familiar with the original documents told The Wall Street Journal.
The expenses also allegedly include more than $200,000 in “Air Transportation” costs in less than a month, partially connected to a Christmastime Bahamas visit by LaPierre, the Journal reported.
NRA President Carolyn Meadows told the newspaper in a statement that the “entire board is fully aware of these issues. We have full confidence in Wayne LaPierre.”
Last month, then-NRA President Oliver North announced he was leaving the group after The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported problems between him and LaPierre. The newspapers uncovered a letter LaPierre reportedly wrote to the NRA’s board accusing North of extorting him over financial wrongdoing allegations.
New York’s attorney general last month launched an investigation into the NRA’s tax-exempt status.
You can read the entire report here.