Nevada Attorney General Faces Questions Over Clemency Support for Convicted Killer

Nevada’s Attorney General, Aaron Ford, has not provided an explanation for his endorsement of a clemency bid for Norman Smith, a convicted killer. Smith took the life of a pregnant woman while out on bail for armed robbery attacks targeting tourists. Ford’s support became public in state records from a meeting of the Nevada Board of Pardons Commissioners on September 16, where he was listed as the sole sponsor for Smith’s clemency application.

Smith was convicted for the killing of Tineshea Adams, a pregnant woman, in a convenience store parking lot. This crime occurred while he was on bail for fourteen charges related to armed robbery against Las Vegas Strip tourists. Despite Ford’s endorsement, the board rejected the clemency bid. Ford missed the hearing linked to this application and did not provide an answer when confronted about sponsoring Smith’s clemency request at the Las Vegas airport.

As Ford campaigns for governor against Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, his record on public safety faces scrutiny. Lombardo has criticized Ford’s actions and stance on criminal justice. The White House has denied any influence from ‘pardon brokers’ in clemency decisions, following an investigation covered by ’60 Minutes’.

A Fox News Digital reporter confronted Ford about the sponsorship. Ford’s campaign explained that the attorney general missed the hearing due to a family medical emergency. They clarified that sponsoring an application is a typical procedural step, though they did not disclose why Ford chose Smith’s case.

Ford encountered a conservative tracker upon deplaning in Las Vegas, the same day as Smith’s hearing, and acknowledged being followed on social media. When asked about supporting Smith’s clemency bid, Ford deflected, not providing a substantive response, before exiting with his wife following a visit to their son, who was reportedly ill.

In Nevada, a clemency application moves forward when a board member sponsors it. Ford’s sponsorship was Smith’s only case he supported all year per Fox News Digital’s 2026 agenda review. Originally charged with murder, Smith was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and three counts of armed robbery. He is currently serving a sentence of 10 to 39 years.

Republican strategist Matt Gorman criticized Ford’s airport departure, suggesting it showcased Ford’s reluctance to discuss the matter. “Ford was moving faster through that airport than the criminals he’s trying to reintegrate,” Gorman told Fox News Digital, questioning Ford’s suitability for the governorship.

The article is reported by Alec Schemmel, a Politics Reporter for Fox News Digital, based in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore Metro Area.