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

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington on Tuesday. | Bloomberg

Reuters

Oct 14, 2026

WASHINGTON – In October 2024, a federal jury in Las Vegas convicted Michele Fiore, a local elected official and ardent supporter of U.S. 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 U.S. Department of Justice.

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