James Fishback retracts claim that Donalds and Mills were under federal investigation

Mixed · 2James Fishback, who lost the Republican primary for Florida governor, retracted his earlier claim that Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills were under federal investigation, and apologised to both men and their families. 1 2 Mixed · 2In a post on X, Fishback said he made a "terrible mistake" in early August, had received the information from someone he trusted, and accepted the Justice Department's public statement that neither man is under investigation, which he said meant he "bore false witness". 1 2 Mixed · 2He said he acted after speaking with his priest and going to confession, wrote the post without consulting his lawyer, and said neither congressman nor their lawyers asked him to write it or had contacted him about it. 1 2

Mixed · 2The original allegation came less than two weeks before the August 18 primary, when Fishback and Donalds were rivals. Newsweek reports Fishback tied it to the congressmen's 2024 travel to the MGM National Harbor resort in Maryland and said prosecutors were examining two dates; the Washington Examiner describes it as an allegation of sex trafficking based on purported whistleblower information. The documents he shared were not independently authenticated. 1 2 Mixed · 2At the time, the Justice Department said publicly that Donalds was not under investigation, and a law enforcement official told Newsweek the allegation against him was "absolutely false". A federal official told the Washington Examiner there were no sex-trafficking investigations into either man, though there was a finance-related investigation into Mills; Newsweek says the department's public statement did not name Mills. 1 2 Mixed · 2Newsweek notes ABC News reported in July that the department was investigating Mills in a matter partly related to his finances, which did not substantiate Fishback's allegation, and that Mills' office said he was not aware of a DOJ investigation. The House Ethics Committee separately has an inquiry into allegations involving Mills, which is not a finding of wrongdoing. Mills has consistently denied wrongdoing. 1 2

Mixed · 2Donalds won the primary on August 18 with 47.8 percent, ahead of Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (25.2 percent) and Fishback (10.5 percent), and now faces Democrat David Jolly in November. Mills lost his primary for a third House term to former news anchor Ryan Elijah. 1 2 Right · 1Jacob Engels, a right-wing journalist and strategist who said he was speaking for Mills, called Fishback a "failed candidate" and a "dangerous insurgent", said his claims significantly affected Mills' primary race, and said Mills demands Fishback retire from politics, give a recorded video apology and provide a letter from his priest. Engels said Mills would not retire and expects to serve "in a new capacity in the administration", without details. 2 Mixed · 2Donalds's campaign declined to comment, and Newsweek said it had requested comment from Fishback, Donalds, Mills and the Justice Department without a reply at publication. 2 1