Nevada AG Aaron Ford Backed Clemency for Dozens of Murderers, Records Show

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has voted to support clemency for dozens of convicted murderers during his nearly eight years in office, including individuals responsible for execution-style killings and "thrill killings," according to a review of state pardon hearings. Ford is currently running for Nevada governor, challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Public records indicate that Ford supported pardons or sentence reductions for 30 individuals convicted of murder. While the governor and Nevada Supreme Court justices also sit on the Board of Pardons Commissioners, Ford's votes have sometimes diverged from those of Gov. Lombardo, particularly in cases involving violent offenders.

One notable case involved Michael Cu, who kidnapped a 16-year-old in 1996, drove him to the desert, and killed him execution-style to steal his car's rims. Ford voted to commute Cu's sentence, making him eligible for parole in 2035, a decision that contrasted with Lombardo's vote against it. The victim's mother had pleaded with the judge at Cu's sentencing, expressing fear for her other children.

In another instance, Ford described his September 2025 vote to grant parole eligibility to Bobby Thomas, who stabbed a 17-year-old to death, as a "no-brainer." He also supported a commutation for Anthony Amati, described by prosecutors as a "thrill killer," in June 2025, making Amati immediately eligible for parole. Amati was convicted of ambushing and killing a Pizza Hut worker for what a prosecutor called the "mere pleasure of it."

Ford's campaign highlights his record as attorney general, emphasizing his work to prosecute criminals and protect communities. His campaign website points to efforts against corporate landlords, drug companies, child predators, fentanyl trafficking, and gun violence, as well as clearing a backlog of rape kits and prosecuting human traffickers.

However, Republicans have seized on Ford's clemency votes as they seek to challenge the public safety image he has cultivated. The governor's office, along with the state's attorney general and Supreme Court justices, makes up the Board of Pardons Commissioners, which holds the authority to grant pardons and commute sentences.

Ford's office and his gubernatorial campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding these pardon votes. Ford has used his experience as the state's top law enforcement official as a central theme in his gubernatorial campaign.