Newsom Names Fiore as Trump's Top 10 Criminal Ally

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A new website launched by the state of California has placed former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore on a list of what it calls “top 10 criminal cronies” of President Donald Trump. The site, which uses an official .gov domain, is designed to highlight California’s declining crime rates while drawing attention to individuals associated with Trump who are facing legal challenges.

The initiative was announced by the press office of Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom. According to the governor, the website serves as a resource for the public to understand who Trump supports and protects. “With crime dropping — again — California is proving what real public safety leadership looks like,” Newsom said in a statement. “Meanwhile in D.C., Trump is a felon who surrounds himself with scammers and drug traffickers. We’re providing the public with a resource putting the facts in one place so Californians, and all Americans, can see who he elevates and who he protects.”

Michele Fiore, who was convicted in October 2024, was suspended from her position as a justice court judge in Nye County in July 2024. A jury found her guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud. The charges stemmed from her alleged misuse of funds intended for memorials of fallen police officers, which she reportedly spent on personal expenses such as cosmetic surgery and rent.

In April, Fiore received a full pardon from Trump. Despite this, she remains suspended from her judicial duties while the Nevada Judicial Commission reviews the case. The commission issued a suspension order in May, pending a final decision. Fiore has since appealed to the Nevada Supreme Court and recently requested that the process be expedited.

Fiore has denied the allegations, calling the case “a fake case” and claiming that the government was aware of its flaws. During an impromptu conversation with 8 News Now Investigators in May, she stated that she had never been sentenced and that the court had not entered a judgment of conviction. She has also declined all interview requests.

In addition to the website, the governor’s press office shared a fictional booking photo of Fiore created using artificial intelligence on the social media platform “X.” The post described her as a former Las Vegas city councilmember and state lawmaker who was convicted on seven counts of wire fraud. It noted that she raised over $70,000 for a fallen police officer’s memorial but used the funds for personal expenses. The post also highlighted Trump’s pardon of Fiore.

Fiore’s political career began in 2012 when she was first elected as a Republican member of the Nevada Assembly. She later served as Las Vegas mayor pro tem and ran for governor and treasurer as a Republican. In late 2022, Nye County Commissioners appointed her to her judgeship. Before her federal indictment, voters re-elected her to the position in June 2024, despite her lack of legal training.

The website also lists other individuals linked to Trump, including Trump himself, who was recently convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Additionally, the list includes the 1,500 people who were pardoned for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Newsom’s initiative comes amid federal data showing that California has a significantly lower homicide mortality rate compared to other states. As of August, California’s rate was 5.1 homicides per 100,000 people, while Nevada’s was 8.2. Mississippi had the highest rate at 19.4 per 100,000.

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