President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Michele Fiore, a Nevada Republican politician convicted of wire fraud for misusing over $70,000 raised for a memorial statue honoring a slain police officer. Fiore used the funds for personal expenses including cosmetic surgery, rent, and her daughter’s wedding. Facing decades in prison, she was pardoned just days after losing a bid for a new trial. WATCH.
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00:00President Donald Trump has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Michelle Fiore,
00:08a former Las Vegas city councilwoman and Nevada state legislator convicted of wire fraud for
00:15misusing over $70,000, raised to honor a fallen police officer, Alan Beck.
00:21Instead of funding the memorial statue, Fiore diverted the money for personal expenses,
00:27including cosmetic surgery, rent, and her daughter's wedding. Fiore was convicted last
00:34October on six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
00:41She was awaiting sentencing, facing potentially decades in prison. But just days after a federal
00:47judge denied her request for a new trial, Trump stepped in with a pardon that wiped away her
00:53conviction and halted her sentencing. In a Facebook post, Fiore claimed she had been the
00:59target of a decade-long conspiracy by the media. The White House confirmed the pardon but declined
01:06to comment further. However, the move has drawn sharp criticism. Nevada Democrats called the
01:12pardon reckless and a slap in the face to law enforcement, accusing Trump of disregarding
01:18the seriousness of the crime. Fiore's legal troubles began in 2021 when FBI agents raided her home.
01:27Prosecutors detailed how she raised funds to honor Las Vegas police officer Alan Beck, who was killed in
01:34the line of duty in 2014 but diverted the money for personal use. Despite her conviction, Fiore remained a
01:42controversial figure known for her outspoken conservative views and support for Trump.
01:48The pardon allows Fiore to avoid prison and potentially return to public life. She has announced
01:55plans to return to the bench next week, despite suspension proceedings still pending. This pardon adds
02:02to the list of controversial clemencies granted by Trump, raising questions about the use of presidential
02:08pardons in politically sensitive cases.