XPost: misc.legal, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.guns
XPost: sac.politics, vegas.general

https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/fiore- suspended-with-pay-from-judge-duties-following-trump-pardon-3375053/

Pahrump Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore has been suspended indefinitely
with pay until a final ruling can be made in other complaints against her,
a state panel ruled Monday. Fiore has vowed to appeal.

Fiore was issued a full and unconditional pardon from President Donald
Trump on April 23 after she was found guilty of conspiracy and wire fraud charges by a federal jury in October, and charges were officially vacated
ahead of her May 14 sentencing. She was accused of raising tens of
thousands of dollars for a statue honoring Metropolitan Police officer
Alyn Beck, who was shot and killed, along with his partner, in 2014.

But the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline voted unanimously on
Monday in favor to punish Fiore, noting she will remain suspended until
other complaints against her are heard. Though a presidential pardon may
close a criminal case related to an ethical complaint against a judge,
Fiore is still subject to the commission considering ongoing conduct as it
may relate to the determination of a potential violation of judicial
conduct, the commissioners found.

Fiore’s “continuing deceit of the charitable donors and her unjust
enrichment at the expense of the slain police officer statue harms the
public’s perception of the judicial system and its confidence in the
system’s legitimacy,” the seven-member panel found, adding that Fiore’s
pardon “undermines her ability to impose justice and to apply the law
fairly.”

In a statement sent to the Las Vegas Review-Journal Tuesday afternoon,
Fiore said the commission’s ruling was “flawed in law as it is in logic,”
and vowed to appeal the suspension.

“Their decision to continue my suspension is not based on new findings or misconduct in office,” Fiore stated. “It is based on unverified public perception and allegations that predate my time as a judge — alleged
conduct that is explicitly beyond their jurisdiction, as they themselves acknowledged in a separate letter issued just last month.”

Fiore in her statement lamented the commission’s decision to suspend her
based on complaints that were never subject to the hearing, and the body
never gave her a chance to refute those claims or was made aware they
would be considered, she said. Fiore also disputed the commission’s
argument that conduct before joining the bench should be disqualifying.

Fiore attached what appeared to be a separate April 2 ruling for a
complaint filed by Steve Sanson of Veterans in Politics, who had a March
26 complaint about alleged judicial misconduct dismissed. The commission
in that decision reportedly told Sanson it “does not have jurisdiction
over the conduct of judges licensed to practice law in the state of Nevada before they enter upon duties of judicial office.”

Fiore had argued that her conduct in question occurred before she became a judge and should therefore be disregarded. Still, evidence showed that
Fiore had “continued to defraud donors by keeping donations” even after becoming a judicial officer, and that she has provided no evidence to
suggest she has paid back defrauded victims or intends to repay them.

“The evidence of Respondent’s dishonesty and retention of funds maintained under false pretenses ‘reveal[s] a current, emergent threat to the
judiciary,’ and required the commission to impose interim suspension ‘to protect against anticipated future harm to the public’s perception of the judicial system,’ ” the commission wrote.

Fiore had previously been suspended without pay since being convicted in
her criminal trial. But commissioners wrote in Monday’s seven-page
decision that the criminal matter against Fiore was closed and that
states, generally, cannot punish an offender for a conviction that was pardoned.

Attorney Michael Sanft, who represented Fiore at trial, had argued that
Fiore did not intend to benefit herself, but that her actions were part of
her work as then-Las Vegas city councilwoman.

The statue was built, but it was paid for by developer Olympia Companies, according to trial testimony. Fiore spent the donations on personal
expenses: rent, plastic surgery and her daughter’s wedding, prosecutors
said.

Regardless, Fiore told the Review-Journal, the commission erred in its
ruling because it failed to consider federal supremacy and “basic due
process.” She added that Monday’s order is an attempt to exercise
retribution and control.

“I’ve remained compliant, silent and respectful — giving them every
opportunity to follow the law,” Fiore stated. “I was elected by the people
of Pahrump in Nye County. I will not be silenced, and I will not step
aside quietly while an unaccountable body weaponizes its authority in
clear violation of the Constitution.”

Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow
@Casey_Harrison1 on X. or @casey-harrison.bsky.social on Bluesky. Review- Journal staff writer Noble Brigham contributed to this report.


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November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump. We look
forward to America being great again.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.

Every day is an IQ test. Some pass, some, not so much.

Thank you for cleaning up the disasters of the 2008-2017, 2020-2024 Obama
/ Biden / Harris fiascos, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

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