Nye County Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore will stay suspended with pay after a decision by the Nevada Commission of Judicial Discipline.
Monday's decision was filed with the Nevada Supreme Court.
Fiore was pardoned by President Trump after she was found guilty of defrauding donors in a failed statue project meant to honor a fallen police officer. She was due to be sentenced on April 14th before receiving a 'full and unconditional pardon' effectively closing her criminal case.
A court document states that since Fiore’s pardon, the Commission has received additional complaints against her. On April 24th her counsel requested that the Commission rescind her suspension and reinstate her to the bench.
A Nevada Supreme Court filing (below) states even though “a pardon may close a criminal case related to an ethical complaint against the judge, but it does not preclude the Commission from considering a judge’s ongoing conduct as it may relate to the conviction to determine the judge’s violation of the Revised Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct…”
Fiore was initially suspended without pay after the jury's conviction.
Fiore argues the Commission “must disregard her conduct because it occurred before she became a judge.” However, the filing says even after she accepted the judgeship she “continued to defraud the donors by keeping donations to which was not entitled and continued to fail to notify them she used their funds for personal expenses…”
As a result, the Commission finds that Fiore’s criminal case “has deeply affected the public’s perception of (her) continued honesty and integrity and that her return to full judicial duties pending the disposition of the additional complaints poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the public and to the administration of justice.”
It goes on to say that until a final decision is made by the Commission, she will remain suspended with pay.
Fiore also worked as a city councilmember in Las Vegas, where she was charged for using funds gathered for a law enforcement memorial for personal use.
May 5, 2025:
A notice has been filed with the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline regarding the April 24th presidential pardon of former Nye County Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore.
The notice states that there will be a hearing on May 9th regarding whether a suspension placed on Fiore is still warranted following her pardon by President Trump, and whether a suspension should be in place with or without salary.
If not, the commission will determine whether Fiore posts a "substantial threat of serious harm to the public or to the administration of justice," based on the case of United States v. Michele Fiore - the case for which Fiore was pardoned.
The hearing will be broadcast live using Zoom; a YouTube link for public viewing will be made available on the Commission's website after the hearing.
Fiore also worked as a city councilmember in Las Vegas, where she was charged for using funds gathered for a law enforcement memorial for personal use.
Original story (4/24/2025, 2:30 p.m.):
Former Las Vegas city councilwoman Michele Fiore has received a full and unconditional pardon from President Donald Trump, effectively erasing her federal conviction for defrauding donors in a failed statue project meant to honor a fallen police officer.
The pardon, signed April 23, comes just three weeks before Fiore was due in federal court for sentencing on May 14.
Fiore was convicted of misusing funds that donors had contributed for the memorial statue, with prosecutors arguing she redirected the money for personal and political gain.
In a filing on Thursday, Fiore’s legal team referred to the pardon as clemency and presented a motion in U.S. District Court to cancel the upcoming sentencing.
The motion, submitted by attorneys Paola Armeni and Gia Marina of Clark Hill PLLC, cites the presidential clemency as grounds to vacate the hearing.
“The President of the United States… has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Michele Fiore,” the court filing reads, referencing Trump’s constitutional authority under Article II, Section 2.
The executive order names Fiore specifically and applies to all offenses outlined in her case, United States v. Fiore, 2:24-cr-155.
The pardon authorizes the U.S. Attorney General to act on Trump’s behalf in executing the clemency.
A judge has not yet ruled on the motion to vacate the sentencing.
Fiore, a vocal Trump supporter and former Republican candidate for state office, was a polarizing figure throughout the trial.
Her case drew national attention both for its political undertones and the emotionally charged nature of the failed police memorial effort.
