Wayne LaPierre ran the National Rifle Association for more than three decades, and on the way out he tried one last move: argue to a New York appeals court that the law could make him explain how he spent the NRA’s money but could not actually make him pay it back. On June 3, the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department of the New York State Supreme Court told him no, upholding the $4.35 million judgment against him and the 10-year ban that keeps him out of NRA leadership.

The ruling, announced by the Office of the New York State Attorney General, leaves intact a December 11, 2024 judgment that ordered LaPierre to repay $4.35 million plus nine percent annual interest and barred him from serving as an officer or director of the NRA, or any organization under its direct control, for a decade. Former NRA Chief Financial Officer Wilson “Woody” Phillips, who faced separate liability in the same case, was ordered to pay $2 million plus the same nine percent interest.

“Wayne LaPierre and other senior NRA leaders broke the law by funneling millions of dollars in lavish perks to themselves and their families,” James said in a statement. “After we successfully proved our case to a jury, LaPierre was ordered to pay $4.3 million and was barred from serving as an NRA officer or director for a decade. This decision upholds the jury’s verdict and is another victory in our efforts to ensure that LaPierre is held accountable for his illegal self-dealing.”