Calling wire fraud charges against her ‘repugnant,’ Nevada politician demands speedy trial

LAS VEGAS (CN) — Nevada politician Michelle Fiore on Friday faced a judge at the Lloyd D. George federal courthouse in Las Vegas after the Justice Department accused her of pocketing funds intended for a memorial for slain police officers.

A current justice of the peace in Nye County, Fiore formerly served as a Las Vegas city councilwoman and a Republican National Committee member.

She faces four counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

In an indictment on Tuesday, federal prosecutors accused Fiore of soliciting donations for a statue for fallen officers — then pocketing the money for personal expenses like rent and her daughter's wedding. Fiore has pleaded not guilty to all five charges.

A firebrand in Nevada politics, Fiore is known for making controversial remarks that have angered both allies and opponents.

Addressing the press outside the courthouse on Friday, Fiore acknowledged this reputation.

"I'm going stick to the script because, for you that are familiar with me, when I go off-script, I get in trouble," Fiore told reporters. "Let's just not create more issues."

Describing the indictment against her as "repugnant," Fiore claimed the accusations were part of "shadow games" she's faced from opponents throughout her political career.

"For the past decade, I have faced relentless investigations, continuous attacks, numerous attorneys and countless negative headlines," Fiore said. "Despite this, I have consistently secured victories, and those victories remain unpublicized. I have served as a city councilwoman and a judge with integrity, honor and respect."

Fiore said she would seek to expedite the trial, currently scheduled for September 24.

"There will be no continuances. We want this now. We want it over," Fiore stated. "I will not give up my right to a speedy trial and my day in court."

During the hearing, prosecutors voiced no opposition to Fiore's plans.

"This is not a complex case," one federal prosecutor told the court.

Federal officials have investigated Fiore since at least 2021, when the FBI executed a search warrant on her home and interviewed potential witnesses about her campaign finances. She has faced legal troubles related to her finances before, losing the license to her home healthcare business in 2015 after refusing to let inspectors see her business records.

Fiore ended her remarks to the press by saying that "no weapon formed against me will ever prosper" — a reference to the Book of Isaiah in the Bible, in which God promises victory and prosperity to his servants.

Fiore did not answer questions after her statement. Instead, she quickly walked away as reporters asked questions about the charges, including whether she transferred funds meant for the memorial to other accounts she controlled.

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