Pahrump, NV – Michele Fiore, a former Las Vegas councilwoman known as “Lady Trump,” will remain suspended from her position as a justice of the peace in Pahrump, Nevada, despite receiving a “full and unconditional pardon” from former President Donald Trump for multiple felony convictions. However, she will continue to receive her taxpayer-funded salary while awaiting a final decision on her job status.
Fiore was convicted of seven felony charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, for misappropriating over $70,000 intended for a charity honoring a slain police officer. Prosecutors alleged she used the funds for personal expenses, such as rent, cosmetic procedures, and her daughter’s wedding.
The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline unanimously decided to maintain Fiore’s interim suspension, citing additional complaints received about her conduct and the need to “protect the integrity of the judiciary.” The commission’s order stated that Fiore’s “dishonesty and retention of funds maintained under false pretenses ‘reveals a current, emergent threat to the judiciary'” and necessitates suspension “to protect against anticipated future harm, including harm to the public’s perception of the judicial system.”
The commission emphasized that Fiore’s continued deceit of charitable donors and unjust enrichment “harms the public’s perception of the judicial system and its confidence in the system’s legitimacy, creates the appearance of impropriety, reflects adversely on Respondent’s honesty and character, and undermines her ability to impose justice and to apply the law fairly.”
Jurors found that Fiore, while a councilwoman, solicited donations for a statue honoring Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Alyn Beck, promising that “100% of the contributions” would be used for the statue. However, the statue was erected without Fiore’s financial assistance, and prosecutors alleged she converted the funds for personal use.
Despite Fiore’s claim that the misconduct occurred before she became a judge, the commission found evidence that she “continued to defraud donors by keeping donations to which she was not entitled and continued to fail to notify them she used their funds for personal expenses instead of for the statue.”
The commission did not disclose the specifics of the additional complaints against Fiore, stating that a final decision on her professional fate would be made at a later date.
Fiore, in a Facebook post, expressed defiance against the commission’s order and announced her intention to appeal. She argued that the decision was based on “unverified public perception and allegations that predate my time as a judge” and claimed a “lack of impartiality” and a “violation of my constitutional rights.” She also criticized the commission for relying on complaints “that were never subject to the hearing, and never disclosed in any official notice,” alleging a “fundamental failure of due process.”
Fiore’s pardon from former President Trump came less than a week after a federal judge rejected her attempt to overturn her conviction. It also occurred less than a month after Trump appointed Sigal Chattah, reportedly a close friend of Fiore, as the interim U.S. Attorney for Nevada.
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