Far-right Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback's latest stunt has President Donald Trump's Justice Department stepping in against him.
A hedge fund manager who has built up a cult following among young Republicans, Fishback is a long-shot candidate challenging Trump's endorsed pick for the race, Congressman Byron Donalds. And this week, Fishback tried to shake up the race by announcing that Donalds is under federal investigation for trafficking.
During a news conference in Tallahassee, Fishback claimed that a whistleblower notified him of a "disturbing pattern of behavior" from Donalds. "This government whistleblower, who approached my campaign, has confirmed that this investigation has now expanded to include U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds, who, along with Cory Mills, is under investigation for federal sex trafficking," said Fishback, claiming it stems from an overseas trip the two made.
But on Friday, the Justice Department's "rapid response" account stamped this out on X, dispensing with typical prosecutorial norms about not confirming or denying ongoing investigations.
"Falsely accusing someone of being under investigation is a dangerous form of weaponization," stated the account. "This claim is not true. Congressman Byron Donalds is not under investigation."
Fishback has ginned up outrage repeatedly for his overtly racist comments, including claiming that Donalds, who is Black, would "turn Florida into a Section 8 ghetto," and even telling a Black questioner he "should be lynched" when confronted with allegations he himself engaged in sexual misconduct.
