Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
LAS VEGAS (AP) — President Donald Trump has granted clemency to a Republican politician from Nevada who was facing sentencing for federal offenses related to misusing donations intended for a memorial honoring a slain police officer. The funds were reportedly diverted to cover personal expenses, including cosmetic surgery.
Michele Fiore, a former city council member in Las Vegas and state legislator who attempted to secure a position as state treasurer in the 2022 elections, was convicted in October on multiple counts, including six charges of federal wire fraud and one charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prior to her sentencing, originally slated for next month, she had been released from custody.
In a detailed Facebook statement shared on Thursday, Fiore, known for her loyalty to Trump, expressed her appreciation for the President’s decision while alleging that the U.S. government and select media have been involved in a long-term scheme to undermine her life.
The White House verified that Fiore received a pardon but refrained from elaborating on the rationale behind the President’s choice.
The pardon was announced just days after Fiore’s unsuccessful attempt to secure a new trial, with potential sentences ranging into decades due to her convictions.
During the trial, federal prosecutors highlighted that Fiore, aged 54, had raised over $70,000 for a statue to commemorate a Las Vegas police officer who was killed in 2014 while performing his duties. However, she allegedly diverted portions of these funds for personal expenses, such as cosmetic surgery and rental payments, along with expenditures for her daughter’s wedding.
“Michele Fiore used a tragedy to enrich herself,” remarked federal prosecutor Dahoud Askar during the proceedings.
In 2021, FBI agents obtained records and conducted a search of Fiore’s Las Vegas residence as part of their investigation into her campaign expenditure practices.
Hilary Barrett, Executive Director of the Nevada Democratic Party, criticized the pardon, describing it as “reckless” and a significant insult to law enforcement professionals.
Although Fiore does not hold a law degree, she was designated as a judge in Nye County, a strongly Republican region, in 2022 shortly after her state treasurer campaign loss.
She was reelected last June to serve out the remaining term of a deceased judge but has been under suspension without pay amid her ongoing legal issues. Located about an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, Pahrump is where she serves.
In Thursday’s statement, Fiore indicated her intention to resume her judicial duties next week.
The Nye County authorities are currently waiting for information regarding Fiore’s suspension status from the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline, which acknowledged her pardon but did not provide further commentary on the matter.
Additionally, inquiries have been sent to Fiore’s legal representative for a statement.
Fiore’s political career spans her time in the state Legislature from 2012 to 2016 and her term on the Las Vegas City Council from 2017 until 2022.
Notably, during her tenure as a state lawmaker, Fiore became a prominent figure for her backing of rancher Cliven Bundy amid armed confrontations with federal agents in 2014 in Bunkerville, Nevada, and again in 2016 in Malheur, Oregon.
Source
www.yahoo.com