Trump pardons Nevada politician who used $70K from slain cop’s memorial funds to pay for plastic surgery, daughter’s wedding

President Donald Trump has pardoned a Nevada Republican leader who was awaiting sentencing connected national charges that she utilized money meant for a statue honoring a slain constabulary officer for individual costs, including integrative surgery.

Michele Fiore, a erstwhile Las Vegas metropolis councilwoman and authorities lawmaker who ran unsuccessfully successful 2022 for authorities treasurer, was found guilty in October of six counts of national ligament fraud and 1 count of conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud. She was retired of custody up of her sentencing, which had been scheduled for adjacent month.

In a lengthy connection Thursday connected Facebook, the loyal Trump supporter expressed gratitude to nan president while besides accusing nan U.S. authorities and “select media outlets” of a broad, decade-long conspiracy to “target and dismantle” her life.

The White House confirmed Fiore had been pardoned but did not remark connected nan president’s decision.

The pardon, issued Wednesday, comes little than a week aft Fiore mislaid a bid for a caller trial. She had been facing nan anticipation of decades successful prison.

Federal prosecutors said astatine proceedings that Fiore, 54, had raised much than $70,000 for nan statue of a Las Vegas constabulary serviceman who was fatally changeable successful 2014 successful nan statement of duty, but had alternatively spent immoderate of it connected cosmetic surgery, rent, and her daughter’s wedding.

“Michele Fiore utilized a calamity to statement her pockets,” national charismatic Dahoud Askar said.

FBI agents successful 2021 subpoenaed records and searched Fiore’s location successful Las Vegas successful relationship pinch her run spending.

In a statement, Nevada Democratic Party Executive Director Hilary Barrett called nan pardon “reckless” and a “slap successful nan face” to rule enforcement officers.

Fiore, who does not person a rule degree, was appointed arsenic a judge in deep-red Nye County successful 2022 soon aft she mislaid her run for authorities treasurer.

She was elected past June to complete nan unexpired word of a judge who died but had been suspended without salary amid her ineligible troubles. Pahrump is an hour’s thrust westbound of Las Vegas.

In her connection Thursday, Fiore besides said she plans to return to nan chair adjacent week.

Nye County said it is awaiting an update connected Fiore’s existent suspension from nan authorities Commission connected Judicial Discipline, which told The Associated Press successful an email that it was alert that Fiore had been pardoned but that it didn’t person further remark connected her situation.

AP besides sent an email seeking remark from Fiore’s lawyer.

Fiore served successful nan authorities Legislature from 2012 to 2016. She was a Las Vegas councilwoman from 2017 to 2022.

While serving arsenic a authorities lawmaker, Fiore gained nationalist attraction for her support of rancher Cliven Bundy and his family during equipped standoffs betwixt militiamen and national rule enforcement officers successful Bunkerville, Nevada, successful 2014 and Malheur, Oregon, in 2016.