Former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore has received a pardon from President Donald Trump, following her conviction on wire fraud charges last year. Fiore, a Republican, was found guilty of misappropriating funds intended for a memorial honoring a fallen police officer, Alyn Beck, diverting them for personal expenses, including rent and plastic surgery.
Fiore’s conviction included six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. She was scheduled for sentencing next month but announced the pardon through a Facebook post on Thursday.
In her statement, Fiore expressed gratitude and claimed to be a “vindicated soul” whose faith in her innocence had been validated.
The pardon, officially documented in a court filing, was granted just a day before Fiore’s post and mere days after a federal judge denied her request for an acquittal or a new trial.
Judge Jennifer Dorsey rejected Fiore’s claims that insufficient evidence was presented against her and that her right to a fair trial had been compromised.
The timeline of the pardon raised eyebrows, particularly as it came shortly after Trump appointed Sigal Chattah as the Interim U.S. Attorney for Nevada. Chattah, who is known to be friends with Fiore, oversees the federal prosecutions in the state, including the case that led to Fiore’s conviction.
Fiore’s legal troubles stemmed from her solicitation of donations intended for the construction of a memorial statue for officer Beck, who was killed in the line of duty in 2014. Prosecutors presented evidence showing that rather than using the donations for the statue, Fiore misused the funds for personal gain, including payments towards her rent and cosmetic surgery.
During her trial, numerous witnesses testified, including Nevada’s Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. Lombardo confirmed that he had received a donation request from Fiore while in his former role as Clark County sheriff, which led to a $5,000 contribution from his campaign account to Fiore’s PAC.
Testimony revealed that soon after the donation, the same amount was transferred into Fiore’s daughter’s account to cover rent.
Beyond her legal issues, Fiore’s political career has been marked by controversy. She entered Nevada politics in 2012, winning a seat in the state Assembly, and subsequently climbed the ranks to serve on the Las Vegas City Council.
However, she lost leadership positions amidst allegations related to more than $1 million in tax liens and made headlines for controversial remarks about qualifications based on race while serving as mayor pro tempore.
In addition to her political aspirations, including an unsuccessful run for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District in 2016 and a narrow loss in the 2022 state treasurer race, which featured a controversial campaign ad, Fiore has faced lawsuits, including one from fellow Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, who accused her of creating a hostile work environment.
After losing her position, she was appointed as a justice of the peace in Nye County, a term she won outright last year before being suspended due to her indictment.
She announced in her Facebook post that she plans to return to her role as a justice of the peace next week following her pardon.
The circumstances surrounding the pardon have sparked discussions about the implications of high-profile political connections in legal proceedings and the broader context of justice in cases involving public officials.
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