Trump Pardons Nevada Politician Convicted of Fraud

LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned Michele Fiore, a former Las Vegas city councilwoman, just weeks before she was scheduled to be sentenced for federal fraud charges. Fiore was convicted in October of six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Federal prosecutors found that Fiore, 54, raised over $70,000 for a statue honoring two police officers killed in 2014 but used the funds for personal expenses, including plastic surgery and her daughter’s wedding. She solicited these donations while claiming they would fund the memorial to Officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo.

In a Facebook statement, Fiore expressed gratitude for the pardon and alleged that there has been a long-term campaign against her by the U.S. government and some media outlets. “Today, I stand before you — not just as a free woman, but as a vindicated soul,” she wrote.

The pardon was signed Wednesday, shortly after a judge rejected Fiore’s request for a new trial. She faced a potential sentence of decades in prison and had remained free on bail pending sentencing scheduled for May 14.

Fiore’s case became public in 2021 when FBI agents searched her Las Vegas home as part of their investigation into her fundraising activities. Prosecutor Dahoud Askar stated during the trial, “Michele Fiore used a tragedy to line her pockets.”

Reactions to the pardon have been mixed. Hilary Barrett, Executive Director of the Nevada Democratic Party, criticized the decision, calling it “reckless” and a “slap in the face” to law enforcement.

Despite her legal troubles, Fiore was appointed as a judge in Nye County in 2022. She intends to return to the bench after her recent pardon.

Nye County officials are currently awaiting a response from the state Commission on Judicial Discipline regarding Fiore’s suspension status. Fiore served in the state Legislature from 2012 to 2016 and as a Las Vegas councilwoman until 2022.