Trump pardons Nevada lawmaker who used slain officer memorial funds for plastic surgery
The Brief
Michele Fiore, a former Nevada lawmaker and Las Vegas city councilwoman, was convicted of wire fraud after spending memorial funds on personal expenses.
President Donald Trump issued her a full pardon, which she announced on Facebook Thursday.
Fiore was awaiting sentencing and had faced decades in prison after prosecutors said she spent donations on cosmetic surgery and rent.
LAS VEGAS - President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Michele Fiore, a controversial Nevada Republican politician convicted of using funds meant for a slain officer's memorial on personal expenses, including cosmetic surgery. Fiore announced the pardon Thursday via Facebook, calling herself the target of a decade-long conspiracy.
Fiore had been awaiting sentencing after being found guilty in October of six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy. Prosecutors said she raised over $70,000 to honor Las Vegas police officer Alyn Beck—killed in the line of duty in 2014—but diverted the money to pay for rent, wedding costs for her daughter, and plastic surgery.
The backstory
Fiore, 54, has long been a polarizing political figure in Nevada. She served in the state Legislature from 2012 to 2016 and then as a Las Vegas city councilmember until 2022. That same year, she lost a bid for state treasurer before being appointed as a judge in Nye County, despite not having a law degree.
She gained national attention for her vocal support of rancher Cliven Bundy and his followers during armed standoffs with federal agents in 2014 and 2016. Most recently, Fiore had been suspended without pay from her judicial post due to her legal troubles. In her statement, she said she plans to return to the bench next week.
What they're saying
The White House confirmed Trump signed the pardon but did not comment further. Nevada Democratic Party Executive Director Hilary Barrett called the move "reckless" and "a slap in the face" to law enforcement.
The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline said it is aware of the pardon but offered no update yet on Fiore's suspension status.
The Source
This story is based on reporting from the Associated Press, including public statements made by Michele Fiore, official confirmation from the White House, and details presented during her federal trial on wire fraud charges. Additional context comes from statements by federal prosecutors and Nevada state officials.
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