Former Las Vegas councilwoman Michele Fiore, who had been found guilty on charges of wire fraud, received a full pardon from President Donald Trump. Following her conviction on six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud last October, Fiore had faced the prospect of up to 140 years in prison, with her sentencing scheduled for May 14 prior to the pardon, as reported by FOX5 Vegas.
Fiore's conviction arose from actions during her tenure on the City Council, where she was accused of diverting funds intended for a police officers' memorial to her personal use. She persistently maintained her innocence and claimed to be unfairly targeted. In a statement obtained by FOX5, Fiore expressed her gratitude to Trump, saying, "I am deeply and eternally grateful to President Donald J. Trump for granting me a full and unconditional pardon." She described the pardon as "the restoration of a life, a reputation, and a mission long targeted for destruction."
Her legal battles included attempts to secure a new trial—efforts that were recently denied—and the categorization of her as a "domestic terrorist" in threat assessments, as mentioned in her statement to FOX5. Fiore characterized the investigations and treatment by federal authorities as a systemic crusade against her, orchestrated by various government agencies in what she described as a "COINTELPRO-style operation."
Michele Fiore had also served as the Justice of the Peace for Nye County, a position she was suspended from without pay following her indictment. Despite these setbacks, she plans to quickly return to the bench. According to FOX5, Fiore has stated, "On Monday, I will walk back into my courtroom as the elected Justice of the Peace—not because man permitted it, but because God ordained it." However, her reinstatement is not yet confirmed by Nye County or by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline, and these entities are still following up on the situation.
In addition to her work on the Council and the bench, Fiore had unsuccessfully run for state treasurer and was vocal in her political stances. Her name was tied to controversies involving support for figures like Cliven Bundy and for her unwavering support of then-President Trump. Fiore's indictment was a consequence of an FBI investigation, with court records indicating misappropriation of campaign and charity funds, according to KTNV Channel 13. Throughout these events, Fiore asserts that she was the victim of a so-called "deep-state plot" to end her political career—an assertion that remained central to her public defense before and after the pardon.
