National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre has been questioned over $240,000 in travel expenses that he charged to the organization's ad agency without providing adequate documentation, it was claimed.
The revelation comes days after LaPierre, the public face of the gun lobbying group for decades, fended off a backlash to be reinstated on Monday as the gun lobby's CEO.
LaPierre was challenged by former NRA President Oliver North, who stepped down over the weekend after threatening to reveal allegations that NRA leaders engaged in financial improprieties.
NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre, (pictured), has been questioned over $240,000 that he charged the organization's ad agency without providing adequate documentation
Now it has emerged that LaPierre charged the NRA's ad agency Ackerman McQueen $240,000 for expenses related to trips he took to Italy, Hungary, the Bahamas and other destinations without providing adequate documentation, according to a letter to the group’s board seen by Fox News.
Some of LaPierre’s expenses were charged to one of the ad firm’s credit cards and included a 2014 stay at the Four Seasons hotel in Budapest and expenses related to trips to Palm Beach and Reno, according to the letter from Ackerman McQueen.
The ad firm was reimbursed over time by the gun-rights group, sources familiar with the matter told Fox News.
An outside attorney for the NRA, William A. Brewer III, told Fox News that the 'vast majority of travel involved donor outreach, fundraising and stakeholder engagement.
'The board is aware of the allegations and has taken them under review.'
Brewer said certain fundraising and travel expenses were submitted through Ackerman McQueen for 'confidentiality and security purposes,' but the practice has since been changed.
The Ackerman McQueen letter was given to NRA directors last week by Oliver North, who had called for a crisis committee of the board to probe the travel costs and other allegations of financial mismanagement.
LaPierre survived a power struggle for the role of CEO in which he was challenged by former NRA President Oliver North, (pictured), who stepped down over the weekend
North then stepped down after he was accused by LaPierre of extorting him and pressuring him to resign over unspecified 'accusations of wardrobe expenses and excessive staff travel expenses,' according to Fox News.
In a statement Thursday, NRA director Marion Hammer said the travel-expense allegations were 'part of the failed coup attempt' and have been properly vetted by the board.
LaPierre’s disclosed compensation in 2017, the most recently reported year, was $1.4 million for his role with the NRA, which he has headed since 1991.
Ackerman McQueen sent Mr. LaPierre the letter stating that it was not able to provide records to the NRA justifying more than $240,000 spent on travel costs without documentation from him, sources
