Michele Fiore

Last updated

When the federal government feels they're going to govern Americans by gunpoint, I'm sorry. If government is going to point a gun at me, I'm going to point my gun right back. If you're going to shoot me, I'm going to shoot you back. I ain't going to shoot first, but I ain't going to let you shoot me. It's just not going to happen. [27]

In April 2016, Fiore was interviewed for the KLAS 8 television show "Politics NOW". Discussing whether the 2014 armed resistance against federal agents was justified (the agents were in Bunkerville, Nevada, to confiscate cattle owned by rancher Cliven Bundy because of defaulted grazing fees), she said,

I would never, ever point my firearm at anyone, including an officer of the law, unless they pointed their firearm at me. Now, once you point your firearm at me, I'm sorry, then it becomes self-defense. So, whether you're a stranger, a bad guy, or an officer, and you—you point your gun at me and you're gonna shoot me and I have to decide whether it's my life or your life, well, I choose my life. [28]

In May 2016, the Nevada Association of Public Safety Officers sent a letter denouncing Fiore's statements, concluding,

Ms. Fiore, we no longer see you as a passionate advocate for your Second Amendment rights, which we support. Rather, these comments were utterly irresponsible, an embarrassment to your District and our State, and they continue to demonstrate why you are unqualified to hold the position of United States Congresswoman. [29]

In response, Fiore told KTNV 13 Action News that her original statement referred to federal Bureau of Land Management agents, not local police. She described BLM law enforcement agents as "wannabe cops" and the BLM as "a bureaucratic agency of terrorism that terrorized Americans, especially ranchers." When pressed about the meaning of her previous statement, she said,

If a rogue, unofficial BLM agent that's literally wanting to be a cop—a wannabe police officer—points a gun at me, there's gonna be a problem. [30]

Involvement in the Bundy standoff

In April 2014, Fiore was interviewed by MSNBC's Chris Hayes and by Fox News's Sean Hannity about the armed confrontation at Bunkerville, Nevada, between law enforcement officers and Cliven Bundy and his supporters. The interviews were shared thousands of times on social media. Fiore said, "The federal government should not show up with guns to collect on a debt" and called for the termination of "whoever ordered this to be done." [31] [32]

Statement about wanting to shoot Syrian refugees herself

On November 21, 2015, on her weekly AM radio program on KDWN, Fiore explained why she had not signed a Nevada Assembly Republican caucus letter that called for a review of federal safeguards before Nevada would resettle Syrian refugees. She said, "We didn't know anything about the letter, nor did we get invited to be on the letter." She went on, "He's like, 'The Syrian refugees.' I'm like, 'What, are you kidding me? I'm about to fly to Paris and shoot 'em in the head myself.' I mean, I am not OK with Syrian refugees. I'm not OK with terrorists. I'm OK with putting them down, blacking them out. Just put a piece of brass in their ocular cavity and end their miserable life. I'm good with that." [33] [34] [35]

On December 7, 2015, she told the Associated Press, "I was not talking about the refugees." She added, "I do not want Syrian refugees in our state, period", and said that she did not trust the refugee vetting process to screen out terrorists. [4]

IRS investigation

In December 2014, it was reported that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had filed dozens of tax liens totaling about $1 million against Fiore and her home healthcare businesses, Always There 4 You and Always There Personal Care. The liens against the businesses involved unpaid employee payroll taxes. In response, Fiore stated, "I am one hundred percent in compliance with IRS, period." Fiore blamed her ex-husband, who at one time acted as her accountant, and a former employee who stole from her while at the same time sent fraudulent documents to her current accountant to hide the embezzlement. [36]

The fallout from her issues with the IRS led to her being removed as majority leader and chair of the Assembly Taxation Committee. [37] It was reported that she reacted to the removal by saying there was a war on women in the Assembly Republican Caucus. "It was a total misquote," Fiore said. "Nevada Republicans are not waging a war on women. We have a group in our caucus that are waging a war on conservatives." [38]

Voiding of home healthcare license

On November 3, 2015, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services's Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC) voided Fiore's license to operate Always There 4 You, a home healthcare service. [39] [40] Always There 4 You and another Fiore-owned home healthcare service, Always There Personal Care, received about $6 million (net) in Medicaid reimbursements between 2011 and March 2015. [41] [42] Although in Nevada an unannounced inspection of such companies' business records is required to be completed every 18 months, [43] in 2013 and 2015 health department inspectors were blocked several times from reviewing Always There 4 You's records. [39] [44] They were denied access by office staff, by Fiore's mother, and by Fiore. [43] [44]

In July 2015, after receiving a formal warning, [44] Fiore met with health department officials in "a so-called conciliation process that essentially gives Fiore one more chance to comply". [41] Fiore said the meeting was "productive" and she was "prepared to welcome inspectors in the future with coffee and doughnuts." [39] [43] In September 2015 an inspector found the Always There 4 You office dark and its door locked, with no notice posted on the premises explaining why. In October 2015 the Bureau sent a certified letter requesting clarification and again reminding Fiore that her license could be suspended or revoked. [45] Fiore did not reply. [39]

On November 3, after officials arrived to find another business moving into the office location, the Bureau administratively closed the Always There 4 You license and notified Fiore. [39] [46] That night, Fiore issued a press release "regarding allegations that her home health care company was shut down by the government." "With the signing of a Notice Of Dissolution last week, I have completely closed my home health care business. While the media will try to tell you that my business was shut down by the government, I would like to lay that rumor to rest." [39] [47]

The next day, the press release contents, under the title "You're Fired, State Inspectors!" and addressed to "Friends", were published on Fiore's website. [48] "You're Fired, State Inspectors!" reproduces an article titled "When 'They' Win, We All Lose," written for a local magazine the month before, which begins, "By the time you read this, my home health care business will be a memory ... It happened because 'They' won."

Do I allow these bureaucratic agencies to bully their way into my office without notice to extort money from my company claiming my files aren't perfect? Do I put up with them dictating to me, forcing me to pay ridiculous outrageous fees to stay in business, and keep growing it to continually cover the government's greed for more which will be never ending? Or do I shrug my shoulders as "Atlas Shrugged" did and say, you can keep your unnecessary, miserable, burdensome, overtaxation, overregulated and overlegislated BS because I won't participate with you anymore? I didn't realize when I threw those overbearing inspectors out of my office just how much I've tolerated. [49]

In "You're Fired" Fiore disclosed that she had been closing down her business for eight weeks. Always There 4 You was officially dissolved November 9, 2015. [50]

Blue Lives Matter March

After the unrest and riots resulting from the murder of George Floyd, conservative talk show host Wayne Allyn Root organized a Blue Lives Matter march on Las Vegas Blvd scheduled for June 13, 2020, of which Fiore was to be a co-host. A flyer was circulated with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's emblem displayed across the bottom. The next day, the City of Las Vegas issued a statement saying the event was not officially sanctioned. The Metropolitan Police Department issued a statement [51] reading, "The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department recently learned of a planned rally for Blue Lives Matter that used images of our badge on their flyers. While we uphold the first amendment right for all groups to peacefully assemble, we did not authorize permission for the organizers to use the LVMPD badge as the department was not part of the planning of this event."

The event was postponed the next day and Las Vegas NAACP President Roxann McCoy said in a news release, [52] "The NAACP Las Vegas is appalled that Las Vegas, Nevada City Council members Mayor Pro Tem Michelle Fiore, Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, Councilman Stavros Anthony do not care to understand Black citizens of Las Vegas and the injustices we constantly endure."

Elections

Committees

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Trump pardons Nevada politician who paid for cosmetic surgery with funds to honor a slain officer". AP News. April 24, 2025.
  2. News 3 Staff (October 4, 2024). "Former Las Vegas councilwoman convicted of wire fraud scheme to defraud donors". news3lv.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. "Michele Fiore's Biography". Project Vote Smart . Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Rindels, Michelle (December 7, 2015). "Nevada lawmaker: Shooting Comments don't apply to refugees". AP. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  5. Kirkland, Allegra. Gun-Toting, Bundy-Defending Nevada GOPer Loses Congressional Race. Talking Points Memo, June 15, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Jeff German; David Ferrara; Shea Johnson (August 17, 2021). "Feds subpoena campaign records in Fiore investigation". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  7. Shea Johnson (January 21, 2021). "As council reacts to history, Fiore calls Trump "one of our greatest"". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  8. Sam Metz (October 19, 2021). "GOP firebrand Michele Fiore enters Nevada governor's race". Associated Press.
  9. "Trump pardons ex-Las Vegas councilwoman Michele Fiore after fraud conviction". KLAS. April 24, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  10. Kyle Roerink (March 5, 2015). "Fiore defends campus carry bill against NYC 'anti-gun nuts'". LasVegasSun.com. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  11. Schwarz, Alan (February 19, 2015). "A Bid for Guns on Campuses to Deter Rape". The New York Times .
  12. 1 2 Grinberg, Emanuella. "Nevada politician wishes you a Merry Christmas -- with guns." CNN. 2015-12-06.
  13. "A true Nevada political rise". Las Vegas Sun. July 20, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  14. Assembly Bill No. 164 as enrolled. May 22, 2015. Nevada Legislature Retrieved December 31, 2015
  15. On May 27, 2015, Governor Brian Sandoval signed the Nevada Right-to-Try Act into law, making Nevada the 18th state to pass the legislation. "Nevada Becomes 18th State to Allow Terminally Ill to Access Investigational Medications". Goldwater Institute. The Goldwater Institute. May 28, 2015. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  16. "Nevada Becomes 18th State to Allow Terminally Ill to Access Investigational Medications". Goldwater Institute. The Goldwater Institute. May 28, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 "Walk the Talk with Michele Fiore" radio broadcast, February 21, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  18. 1 2 Ewan, Julia (February 26, 2015). "A lawmaker who believes saltwater and baking soda can cure cancer". Washington Post .
  19. "Sodium Bicarbonate". American Cancer Society. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  20. Assembly Bill No. 164 as introduced. February 13, 2015. Nevada Legislature Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  21. Martin, Jonathan (January 8, 2021). "In Capital, a G.O.P. Crisis. At the R.N.C. Meeting, a Trump Celebration". The New York Times . Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  22. "Ex-Las Vegas councilwoman pleads not guilty in alleged charity scheme". July 19, 2024.
  23. "Michele Fiore pleads not guilty to federal charges in alleged charity fraud scheme". July 19, 2024.
  24. "Nevada politician guilty of using $70,000 meant for statue of slain officer for personal costs". apnews.com. October 3, 2024.
  25. Murphy, Vanessa (October 3, 2024). "Michele Fiore convicted by jury in wire fraud case". KLAS-TV.
  26. Powell, Antoinette Radford, Maureen Chowdhury, Elise Hammond, Tori B. (April 24, 2025). "The latest on Trump's presidency | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved April 25, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. 1 2 Kudialis, Chris (March 16, 2016). "Fiore: Oregon occupiers were campers who were victimized by government". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  28. "Michele Fiore's April 24, 2016 interview by KLAS 8 Politics NOW". KLAS 8 TV. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  29. "Law enforcement group tells Michele Fiore she's 'unqualified' for Congress". Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  30. "Michele Fiore's May 2016 interview by KTNV 13 Action News". KTNV 13 TV. May 10, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  31. "MSNBC's Chris Hayes vs. Cliven Bundy Supporter NV Assemblywoman Michele Fiore". Real Clear Politics . Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  32. "Sean Hannity interviews Assemblywoman Michele Fiore regarding Chris Hayes and Bundy Ranch". YouTube . Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  33. Lucas, Scott (December 7, 2015). "Michele Fiore says she wants to shoot Syrian refugees". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  34. "Walk the Talk with Michele Fiore - Assemblywoman Michele Fiore". Assemblywoman Michele Fiore. begins at 7:07. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  35. Chokshi, Niraj (December 8, 2015). "Nevada lawmaker says 'shoot 'em in the head' remark applied to terrorists, not refugees". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  36. "Vegas assemblywoman blames employee for tax liens". The Washington Times . Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  37. "Michele Fiore removed from Assembly leadership positions". Las Vegas Sun. December 18, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  38. Bolinger, Kevin (February 3, 2015). "Michele Fiore discusses divide between Assembly Republicans". KVVU TV - FOX 5. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "State voiding lawmaker Michele Fiore's health care license". LasVegasSun.com. November 3, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  40. Chereb, Sandra; Botkin, Ben (November 3, 2015). "Fiore loses license for home health care business". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  41. 1 2 "Fiore snubs, threatens state inspectors, could lose home health care license". Ralston Reports. July 21, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  42. Whaley, Sean (July 24, 2015). "State threatens Assemblywoman Fiore with business shutdown". Las Vegas Review-Journal . Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  43. 1 2 3 "State: Assemblywoman Michele Fiore blocked inspectors at her business". LasVegasSun.com. July 24, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  44. 1 2 3 Nevada DHHS, Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (July 24, 2015). "Fiore-Always there for you letter.7-24.2015". Scribd . Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  45. Nevada DHHS, Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (October 20, 2015). "Always There 4 You 10-20-15". Scribd . Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  46. Nevada DHHS, Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (November 3, 2015). "November 3, 2015 Letter to Ms. Fiore". Scribd . Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  47. Ralston, Jon (November 5, 2015). "Fiore in danger of losing business license". Ralston Reports . Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  48. "You're Fired, State Inspectors!". Assemblywoman Michele Fiore. November 4, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  49. "When 'They' Win, We All Lose". Assemblywoman Michele Fiore. November 4, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  50. "Entity Actions for 'ALWAYS THERE 4 YOU LLC'". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  51. "UPDATE: Blue Lives Matter March in Las Vegas postponed". June 9, 2020.
  52. "'Blue Lives Matter' postponed, harshly criticized by Las Vegas NAACP". June 9, 2020.
  53. "Congressional results". nvsos.gov. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  54. "2012 Official Statewide General Election Results November 6, 2012". Carson City, Nevada: Secretary of State of Nevada. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  55. "2014 Official Statewide General Election Results November 4, 2014". Carson City, Nevada: Secretary of State of Nevada. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  56. Walker, Patrick (March 15, 2017). "The race for Ward 6: Why is it so important?". LASVEGASNOW. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  57. "Fiore, Ross head for runoff in Las Vegas Ward 6". Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 5, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  58. "Michele Fiore celebrates Las Vegas City Council win". Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 14, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  59. "Michele Fiore named Mayor Pro Tem for Las Vegas". July 3, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  60. "Michele Fiore named Mayor Pro Tem for Las Vegas". KTNV. July 3, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  61. "Mayor & City Council". City of Las Vegas. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019.
  62. "City of Las Vegas elects Stavros Anthony to Mayor Pro Tem". FOX5 Las Vegas. July 8, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  63. "Fiore re-elected to Republican National Committeewoman over the weekend". June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  64. Miller, Cody (June 8, 2020). "Clark County Republican Party rebukes Mayor Pro Tem Fiore's 'racially charged' remarks". KSNV. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  65. Hart, Cody Miller, Gabby (June 16, 2020). "Michele Fiore steps down as Mayor Pro Tem of Las Vegas". KSNV.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  66. Snyder, Riley (June 16, 2020). "Fiore steps down as mayor pro tem, says it has nothing to do with racial comments". The Nevada Independent.
  67. "Embroiled in controversies, Michele Fiore announces run for governor". October 19, 2021.
  68. "Las Vegas Councilwoman Michele Fiore drops out of governor race, runs for state treasurer". KLAS. March 17, 2022.
  69. "Democrat Conine wins reelection as Nevada treasurer; Fiore personally calls to concede".
  70. "State of Nevada - Legislator Information". Carson City, Nevada: State of Nevada. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
Michele Fiore
Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore.jpg
Fiore in 2016
Nye County Justice of the Peace
for Pahrump Department B
Assumed office
December 20, 2022