Lombardo Takes Stand Against Fiore

Republican Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo took the stand Monday, September 30, in the federal wire fraud case against now-suspended Pahrump Justice Court Judge Michele Fiore.

Fiore faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud for allegedly misappropriating funds meant to memorialize a fallen police officer. Fiore, a political figure often embroiled in controversy, stands accused of raising money to fund a statue commemorating slain Las Vegas Metro police officer Alyn Beck, only to divert those donations for personal expenses.

Lombardo, who served as assistant sheriff when Beck and Officer Igor Soldo died in 2014, personally contributed to the statue fund. In 2019, “Lombardo for Sheriff,” donated $5,000 toward the project.

However, Lombardo’s involvement in the case warrants scrutiny. While on the stand, he acknowledged having donated to Fiore’s political campaigns over the years—a relationship that raises questions about the integrity of his financial and political dealings.

When Fiore’s defense attorney, Michael Sanft, pressed him about his campaign contributions and whether donors knew where their money would go, Lombardo appeared defensive.

“I don’t understand why I’m being asked these questions when I’m a victim and a witness,” he testified, attempting to distance himself from the legal intricacies of Nevada’s notoriously lax campaign finance laws.

Lombardo’s reluctance to engage with the implications of his donations speaks volumes. His $5,000 check, intended for the statue, was almost immediately funneled into an account controlled by Fiore’s daughter, Sheena Siegel, and used to cover personal expenses—including Fiore’s rent—according to testimony by FBI forensic accountant Sandra Harris. Similar fraudulent transactions occurred as Fiore continued receiving donations for the memorial, according to federal prosecutors, who allege she altered campaign documents to cover her tracks once she knew she was under FBI investigation.

The pattern of mismanagement and ethical lapses in Fiore’s political career, which includes her time as a Las Vegas City councilwoman and now-suspended judge, mirrors her entangled relationship with Lombardo. While Fiore faces charges, Lombardo’s history also deserves a critical eye.

Not only did he financially support Fiore, but his tenure as Clark County Sheriff was marked by troubling decisions, including his quick handover of authority to the FBI following the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017. That decision, which allowed federal authorities to take control of the investigation the day after 58 people died, raised serious concerns about his judgment and willingness to defer to external powers when local leadership was most needed.

While the government rested its case before noon on Monday, the testimonies given—including Lombardo’s—highlight deeper concerns about the political culture in Nevada, where figures like Fiore and Lombardo operate in murky ethical territory, their fates intertwined in a system that seems more interested in preserving political power than ensuring accountability.