In Trump's pardons for public officials, Republicans win most of the mercy

In October 2024, a federal jury in Las Vegas convicted Michele Fiore, a local elected official and ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, of charity fraud. Fiore, the jury found, solicited donations for a slain police officer's memorial and spent nearly $80,000 of it on plastic surgery, her daughter's wedding and rent.

The jury deliberated for less than two hours, including a lunch break, before finding Fiore guilty on seven charges brought by the Department of Justice.

Weeks before she was to be sentenced last year, Trump granted Fiore "a full and unconditional pardon," sparing her the prospect of decades in prison, payment of criminal fines, and any restitution to donors whose funds she misspent. In a statement at the time, a White House spokesperson noted Fiore's support for the president and said that Biden-era prosecutors had targeted the politician, known in Nevada as "Lady Trump," because of "outspoken conservative views."