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NRA Tax Filing: Embattled CEO Earned About $2 Million in 2018

Associated Press

   The National Rifle Association's embattled top executive earned about
   $2 million last year at a time when the gun rights lobby is beating
   back challenges from regulators, longtime members and gun control
   groups, according to tax filings cited in media reports.

   The tax filings come as the NRA faces investigations in New York and
   Washington that threaten its nonprofit status. Nonprofits file tax
   documents every year, and they are a year behind, capturing the NRA's
   finances for 2018 -- the year before internal strife spilled into
   public view.

   The tax filings were not yet publicly available, but news reports in
   The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post cited the documents.
   The NRA refused to make them available to The Associated Press, saying
   its longtime policy is only to provide paper copies by mail.

   According to the filings, known as 990s, longtime NRA CEO Wayne
   LaPierre's total compensation rose to more than $2 million. His base
   salary went from $1.17 million to $1.27 million, he received a bonus of
   about $455,000, and he got about $366,000 from a deferred compensation
   plan, according to the documents cited in media reports.

   Critics outraged

   NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said in a statement that compensation
   for LaPierre and other senior officials followed a "detailed analysis
   conducted by an independent compensation committee. Mr. LaPierre's
   compensation includes benefits made payable under his retirement plan."

   The news reports drew immediate rebukes from critics.

   "This is further evidence that, at this point, LaPierre is more of a
   burden than an asset to American gun owners," said Rob Pincus, a
   longtime NRA member and firearms instructor who is a member of Save the
   Second, a group calling for LaPierre's resignation and seeking changes
   to the NRA.

   Long viewed as the most powerful gun lobby in the world, the NRA has
   been facing internal and external pressures over its operations and
   spending habits. Authorities have launched investigations, and there
   has been a revolt by members who are questioning the NRA's finances and
   leadership.

   There are allegations that LaPierre expensed hundreds of thousands of
   dollars in luxury clothing he purchased in Beverly Hills and that the
   NRA has made tens of thousands of dollars in payments to a handful of
   influential board members.

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