Friday, May 8, 2026

Trump fraudster learns the hard way that a pardon only goes so far

Trump fraudster learns the hard way that a pardon only goes so far

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/5/8/800035215/justice/trump-fraudster-pardon-only-goes-so-far/ 

 

Trump fraudster learns the hard way that a pardon only goes so far

by Lisa Needham
Staff
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Michele Fiore participates in a debate in Henderson, Nev., April 26, 2016. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Attribution: APMichele Fiore got a pardon from President Donald Trump, but that isn’t saving her from her judicial misconduct charges in Nevada.

Turns out that a pardon from President Donald Trump doesn’t actually protect you from everything.

Michele Fiore is one of the scuzzier and more low-rent denizens of Trump world. She scammed people out of $70,000 in donations that she solicited for a statue to honor a slain police officer, instead spending it on cosmetic surgery, rent, and her daughter’s wedding. 

That is, of course, illegal, but lining your pockets is pretty much a requirement for Trumpy types these days. And honestly, $70,000? That’s pocket change in Trump land. 

Michele Fiore Christmas card with whole family holding guns
Attribution: Michele Fiore/FacebookMichele Fiore’s family Christmas card (via Michele Fiore/Facebook)

Now, Trump was going to pardon her—probably in part because she goes by the nickname “Lady Trump,” which is equal parts horrifying and pathetic. But sadly for Fiore, a presidential pardon does nothing to get her out of the judicial misconduct charges she faces in Nevada.

Fiore is, inexplicably, a justice of the peace—despite not being a lawyer. She’s been charged with violating the Revised Nevada Code of Judicial Conduct because, after being sworn in as a judge in December 2022, she failed to inform donors that she stole their funds and to return them. 

Her stick fingers did, however, get her convicted of seven felonies, which Trump made go away. But the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline said that her convictions were still an ethical problem, as they created a perception that her “honesty, impartiality, temperament, or fitness to serve as a judge is adversely affected.”

This should not be a remarkable or controversial stance. Normal people do not like going before a judge who sees no problem with lying to people about honoring police while instead getting some nips and tucks on the dimes of the gullible. 

But Fiore has been fighting this for ages. 

First, she argued that the commission didn’t have the right to suspend her because her crime occurred before she became a judge. Nope, said the Nevada Supreme Court, noting that since she didn’t give the money back when she became a judge, she improperly enriched herself while she was a judge. 

Somehow, Fiore’s argument that it isn’t fraud because the donors aren’t mad at all and still love her didn’t land with the state’s highest court. Weird, right?

After that didn’t work, Fiore demanded that the Nevada Supreme Court remove her suspension because it’s not fair to be mean to her about something she did before she became a judge. Her lawyer even got in on the stupidity, arguing that the court wasn’t letting Fiore resume her duties simply because they were upset she got a pardon.

Related | Now the scumbag Jan. 6 insurrectionists want you to pay them

While there’s no real evidence whatsoever that the justices were upset, what would be wrong with that? Neither Trump nor Fiore sees anything wrong with literal fraud, which is genuinely upsetting to people tasked with upholding the rule of law.  

You’ll note that Fiore’s crime here was very small compared to the usual high-profile Trump pardons, but that’s because there are two distinct pathways to a pardon from him.

If you’re remarkably rich—no matter what your crime—you can net a pardon by bribing Trump, either by purchasing his family’s worthless crypto thingy or by donating an eye-popping amount to Trump himself.

Fiore is in the other camp, which consists of pardons for people who committed the same types of crimes that Trump did or who say they were prosecuted because they support Trump.

Attribution: Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free PressA cartoon by Clay Bennett.

Take former Sheriff Scott Jenkins of Culpeper, Virginia, for example. Jenkins took $75,000 in bribes from people who wanted to be deputy sheriffs to get out of speeding tickets and from a convicted felon who wanted his gun rights restored. 

Trump declared that this was persecution by “Radical Left monsters” and that Jenkins was “left for dead.”

Similarly, Trump’s pardon of reality TV fraudsters Todd and Julie Chrisley was no doubt in part because of his own reality TV background. But it was also because they were convicted of fraud and tax evasion, and Trump’s relationship with the truth when it comes to taxes is … nonexistent. 

What better way for Trump to show his utter disdain for the judicial system and rule of law?

Trump can be as mad as he wants, but pardons only stretch so far. Fiore is going to have to fight Nevada’s judicial commission all by herself.

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  1. Comment by Washburnb.

    One skunk pardoning another one doesn't turn the second skunk into a silk purse. It remains a skunk, stench and all.

  2. Comment by No Dolls 4 Donny.

    Just your typical Republicans.

  3. Comment by javax2.

    Why wasn't she tried in a state court in the first place?

    Aren't there applicable state statues that cover criminal fraud?

    It's like this justice system is set up for trumps intervention.

  4. Comment by Joe Engineer.

    For those asking, her convictions were federal. From her wiki page:

    In 2024, Fiore was convicted of seven counts of federal felony fraud for stealing $70,000 meant for a memorial to a police officer and spending it on personal expenses including cosmetic surgery.[1][2] In 2025, she was pardoned by President Donald Trump before she was due to be sentenced.[3]

  5. Comment by funningforrest.

    I do disrelish (yeah, that's a word, I looked it up) the inclination in myself to be biased and prejudiced, but the Christmas card says it all to me. The guns entitle the adults to whatever they want, and they brainwash their children into this sense of "us versus the world and we're going down shooting, by God and Jesus!!!"

    Sick. People.

    • Reply by Alex.

      They seem like a polite family

  6. Comment by dadadata.

    Ummm, he pardoned her how on state charges? This sure ain't clear.

    • Reply by Truth Will Out.

      That’s my thought exactly…. This all seems to mostly be state charges. How is trump getting into the middle of that?

  7. Comment by Things Come Undone.

    Maybe it is time to restrict a President's power to pardon people?

    • Reply by Truth Will Out.

      Past time, really, but it would need an amendment to the constitution. That’s a pretty big lift.

    • Reply by jakebob.

      Well, there's this impeachment thingy, if only more of our "representatives" were more into representing us than their personal advancement.

  8. Comment by giddy thing.

    The spirit of Christmas is sure twisted with that sorry lot. Who, seeing that obscene photo, would vote for that?

    • Reply by colinrday.

      You don't believe that people should hold firearms in Christmas photos? Do you hate Lauren Boebert, too?

    • Reply by dadadata.

      I'm not going to say what I really, really want to say.

    • Reply by LongDog.

      I can't imagine being so afraid of other people that you have to carry a gun around. It's one thing if you live in cracktown, but everywhere else YOU are the danger. Scared little people.

    • Reply by funningforrest.

      Nevada is a big wide open scary dangerous state, you know. All that blistering sand, sharp rock, hot wind, freezing wind, woo-o-o-oo wind, can't be too careful. You never know when a Marmot is likely to mug you or a lizard will try to take inappropriate advantage of your daughter.

    • Reply by A Noah Count.

      But if the lizard is a member of the Epstein class, it's A-OK if they take inappropriate advantage of your daughter.

    • Reply by Alex.

      WHERES MY FUCKING BIKE SANTA

    • Reply by jakebob.

      Some boob with kids named Remington, Colt, Winchester, and Glock.

      Why do you ask?

  9. Comment by Things Come Undone.

    "In December 2025, Todd and Julie's son Kyle was arrested in Rutherford County, Tennessee, on numerous charges, including domestic assault, assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public intoxication charges.[26][27] The arrest came during the time Todd and Julie Chrisley were suing the Rutherford County Sheriff's office for a similar arrest against Kyle in September 2024.[27]".

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Chrisley

    Drunk, Domestic Assault and Assaulting a police officer he will likely need another pardon. He seems to have had another show but it got canceled.

    • Reply by dadadata.

      TFG can't pardon on state charges.

  10. Comment by kck.

    My stomach is starting to roil in anticipation of Trump pardoning Epstein's pimp, his concierge for pedophile consorts and pimp team supervisor of 5 women snaring poor HS girls who hoped for a part-time job, but instead were served up as entrees for perverted, ugly, old white men into teens. He'll fly the pimp out before some state LE catches up with her like Fiore.

    • Reply by Whatsnuts.

      Pardoning her will be monumental admission of his own guilt. Every Republican will have to own that shame for the rest of the universe.

    • Reply by CalPoolidge.

      I'm not sure they care at this point. I'll be surprised if Musk didn't rig the election software to elect Republicans no matter what. They seem to be acting as if they know they are untouchable.

    • Reply by MDGluon16.

      I don’t think he will pardon Ghislaine per se, he will likely shorten her sentence and let her leave the US. He will of course say she has been “punished” enough and was wrongly persecuted and mean things were said about her and it was all Biden, err Obama’s fault or something, something, weave, look squirrels eating cake!

    • Reply by BrunswickBeaches.

      See Thom Hartmann's post yesterday. "Was the 2024 Election Stolen not by Ballots, but by Algorithms?" He posits that the algorithms were changed to direct more moderate-sounding right-wing stuff to the Dems and direct less liberal-sounding stuff to the Reps. It makes perfect sense to me. Check it out. I'm pretty sure they'll do it again for 2026 and 2028, but may not be so successful, because now the people can see for themselves that it was all lies.

    • Reply by A Noah Count.

      A Republican feel shame?!!??

      Now THAT'S funny!

    • Reply by Alex.

      "She's learned her lesson"

    • Reply by jakebob.

      Shame? What is this "shame" you speak of? My translator says "irrelevant colloquialism".

    • Reply by Crazy Jane.

      That post was both brilliant and chilling, though I am not sure I understood it perfectly.

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Thursday, May 7, 2026

the 40 days of trumpmas - a surreal serial poem

 

the 40 days of trumpmas - a surreal serial poem


Remember, remember! The fifth of trumpvember

 the 40 days of trumpmas - a serial poem

 

for 40 days the trumpeter reigns,

his lies and hate on whom he disdains,

but election day will come so soon,

we'll no longer hear the orange baboon;

 

in 39 days full of world wide problems.

we could elect him to get rid of the muslims,

but as he'll rant on trivialities of his presidential life,

what could be worse? - you could be his wife;

 

in 38 days just what will you do?

the donald has said he likes lgbtq,

but as he bullies his women and all his men too,

if youre questioning, what stops him from bullying you?

 

in just 37 days, some people are saying,

(or pleading or hoping or some even praying)

the duke of prunes will dye his forelock purple my friend,

and thus make america grape again,

 

our days are down to just 36,

before our problems the don will fix,

he will on day one do what hes said - true,

he'll wall out our enemies - and fat women too!

 

on the 35th day of trumpmas

yes just seven weeks remain!

will the polls and tallies deliver us

donald with his golden mane?

 

34 days and the vice-pipers have piped,

though pence didnt say why donalds suit shouldnt be striped,

he wouldnt defend his master's string pulling,

to make america great? - who do they think they're fooling?

 

just 33 days till the macho tornado,

unless its blown away by hurricane machado,

with women and voters he has so much to loose.

keep your mouth shut donald (unless youre changing your shoes)

 

32 days and we’ve been hit by the big blowhard,

donald spoke here in fla (oh, we had a hurricane too)

this administration gives us playing the race card, a weak economy, and unemployment

but if you want a job you could be donald’s campaign manager (unless youre a jew)

 

31 days, just a month, remains;

will the donald say hes sorry, and his baser impulses restrain?

or keep blaming bill clinton for our moral demise;

when trump speaks to us, our NO votes must be our replies!

 

election comes this time (in 30 days) each 4 years,

time for praise and tears and fears;

as polls will open in many states,

vote early, please dont vote late!

 

down to 29, just a leap february,

and theres still the donald quite

contrary;

donald donald, how does your garden grow?

quoth the master debater, "with pretty maids groped in a row"

 

just 28 days - later or soon,

and the zombies will rise, led by the big goon;

unless everyone gets a reality inoculation,

i might have to move to canada for a well deserved vacation; 

 

now just 27, less than 4 weeks,

no time for you to say 'yikes!' or 'eeeks!'

obama wants to go to mars and colonize it for man,

lets send trump tomorrow! and colonize it for orangutan!

 

26 days are all that remain,

will our democracy and economy go down the drain?

if we all keep listening to the blustering oaf,

will he give jobs and prosperity? - or just half a loaf

 

25 days - will more women speak?,

of the antics of donald who the presidency seeks,

dating 14 year old girls or groping their mothers,

how did the gop pick him over the others?,

 

24 days - were down to two dozen,

the next woman who speaks just might be your cousin,

or mother or sister, aunt, niece, even daughter,

describing the circumstance in which donald caught her,

 

23 days left and trump doesnt yet have as many accusers,

as cosby, but he assures us that they are all really losers,

sent by bankers or hillary with secret agendas,

to disrupt our election of him - our defender!,

 

22 days and we know charity begins at home,

but donalds attention is so prone to roam,

his gift that disappeared to 911 survivors from his foundation?,

oops! maybe donald spent it on a vacation,

 

21 days and trump says the election may be rig-ly,

if hes not the winner and his total's not big-ly,

tremendously higher than hillary gets,

he warns his supporters may all lose their wits,

 

20 days left and while george zimmerman still walks free,

the man who shot at HIM got 20 years - while trayvon got eternity,

trump wants us to support our cops and maintain law and order,

he'll put all the inner city dwellers in jail, and send the immigrant criminals far across the border,

 

19 days left till we all go to pretend,

to elect someone to lead us, as if on it our lives depend,

but wise man, donald trump, already really knows,

who we really voted for - a wolf in president's clothes?,

 

18 days and we bad hombres demand a rebate,

on the ill feelings left since the comments of one candidate,

the debaters have met in their final grudge match,

but only donald can say from whose hands victory will be snatched,

 

17 days and our government is corrupt with quid pro quo,

did you take latin at wharton? is that how you know?,

donald wants us to fire at them all - the bureaucrats lined up in rows,

and believe me, corruption is a subject. that donald really knows,

 

16 days - lets set term limits on all our office holders,

and put all our women in binders - or maybe in folders,

donalds endless complaints are becoming a sour whine,

have a little cheese with that, from wisconsin, where 

hillary's doing fine,

 

15 days and on stocking covered thighs did linger,

two miniature hands with two thumbs and eight tiny fingers,

they belonged to the donald who believed that he owned,

any thing that he wanted - or anyone he got alone,

 

14 days yes only two weeks,

till the duke of orange assends to the throne he seeks?,

to rule all americans, the strong and the weak?,

and dominate the globe with power that's peak?,

 

the 13th day to go - does that seem unlucky?,

not for donald whos lately been appearing quite plucky,

claiming media, polls, and parties are against him,

and rallying his multitudes with wit waxing dim,

 

on the 12th day of trumpmas donald awoke with a jerk,

promptly fired his latest campaign manager (who considered that a perk),

if youre "AAAfroAAAmurikan" and unemployed i can put you to work,

barked donald the businessman from behind his sly smirk,

 

it's the 11th and engineer casey trump is in the caboose,

i hear some of you saying oh no! what's the use,

our campaign will probably just go off the tracks,

but donald says its ok - cause he's got "the blacks",

 

just ten days left yes only one-zero,

til donald is hoping that he'll be your hero,

as new hillary emails come under investigation,

donald hopes to rename camp david to camp donald for

his vacations,

 

like a cat has nine lives we're left with only 9 days,

till we're subject to donald? and his old wicked ways,

on foreign affairs he says he'll save us from isis,

but his domestic affairs are misogyny and crisis,

 

our days are numbered - yes only eight,

till once again we make america great,

by getting rid of candidates who have nothing to add,

goodbye donald you wont make america sad,

 

just one week to go - its day minus seven,

till america's lifted above - to trumpty dump heaven?,

where for rich folks like donald opportunity abounds,

and we keep the working poor with a wall that surrounds,

 

how the time it does fly its already day 6,

till americans problems the donald will fix,

his solutions begin on trumpday number one,

dont you like them? they'll come at the barrel of a gun,

 

Five days to go, baby, One in five,

No one here gets out alive, now,

david dukes not opposed to all jews,

he backs trump - who are you going to choose?,

 

only 4 days left till the armaged-don,

he'll seize power by the horns once he has won,

and donnie will be what he longs for - a winner,

using the FBI to wreak havoc on hillary the sinner,

 

only three left, just a triad of days,

and the donald his supporters continues to amaze,

with hoopla and folderoll made up in his head,

his winning temperament will leave us all dead,

 

just a pair of days - 2 - till trump paradise,

since these words you're reading please heed my advice,

the creatures that surround us are beginning to bite,

'blacks for trump' fear the Illuminati so lets turn out their light,

 

just a single day left till our thanksgiving,

deliver us from donald and preserve the living,

forget sanity and disgard your misgivings,

but pray hard to your gods that they'll be forgiving,

since we've got the nukes why can't we use'em?,

on the road to 2016 why couldn't we lose HIM?,

 

and trumpmas now has finally come,

the tallies will count up to a winning sum,

unless the earth is struck soon by a cataclysmic comet,

to elect a candidate who just makes you want to vomit?,

we wish you a merry trumpmas at this time each 4 years,

if you have'nt voted you've lost the chance to mitigate your fears,

cause donald duck is ready to lead, forget your crocodile tears,

so you'd better get the vaseline and lubricate your rears!

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