NRA goes on trial in New York City to face civil corruption allegations from Letitia James [Video]

NEW YORK — The National Rifle Association operated as “Wayne’s World,” allowing executive vice president Wayne LaPierre and a group of insiders to squander tens of millions of dollars donated to the nonprofit group, a lawyer for the New York Attorney General’s office said Monday during opening statements at the NRA’s civil corruption trial.

“You will hear that the NRA allowed Wayne LaPierre and his group of insiders to operate the NRA as Wayne’s World for decades,” assistant attorney general Monica Connell told the jury. “This case is about corruption of a charity. It’s about breaches of trust and it’s about power.”

LaPierre is seated on the defense side of the courtroom, relegated to a bench in the front row behind the lawyers. He agreed on Friday to resign, effective at the end of the month.

“He didn’t have the NRA’s best interest in mind,” Connell said. “We believe that Mr. LaPierre’s voluntary …