Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback accused fellow candidate U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of being under federal investigation for sex trafficking on Thursday, citing a whistleblower and claiming his campaign has independently verified the allegations.
During a press conference in Tallahassee, Fishback alleged that Donalds and fellow U.S. Rep. Cory Mills “solicited, procured, and paid women for sexual acts” on two separate occasions in 2024 at MGM National Harbor near Washington, D.C., according to the Washington Examiner. Both men were sitting congressmen at the time of the alleged incidents on May 17 and November 19, 2024.
Donalds’ campaign dismissed the allegations as “completely false” and called them a “baseless and defamatory sideshow,” according to Florida Politics. Campaign spokesman Gates McGavick said the campaign would not be distracted by the claims. A law enforcement source also told Florida Politics that allegations against Mills were “absolutely false.”
Fishback said he was “reluctant” to make the accusations public and noted he had contacted Donalds before the announcement. He did not take questions from reporters following the press conference. The Department of Justice declined to comment on the allegations, according to Fishback’s account.
The accusation arrives less than two weeks before Florida’s Republican primary election on August 18. Donalds leads the GOP primary by 31 points in the latest poll, driven by former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Fishback has faced numerous legal challenges during his gubernatorial campaign, including a federal court order requiring him to pay $1.3 million to his former hedge fund employer, Greenlight Capital, and a judgment of $229,000 related to personal luxury purchases, according to Florida Politics.
Cory Mills was reported by NBC News on July 21 to be under Department of Justice criminal investigation, though Mills initially denied knowledge of such an investigation. That inquiry centers on allegations of campaign finance violations, sexual misconduct, and dating violence, according to multiple news sources.
Fishback’s legal team has also faced scrutiny. His former law firm moved to withdraw from representing him over more than $150,000 in unpaid bills, and he lost an arbitration bid against Greenlight Capital this past spring after failing to participate in the case. Fishback also admitted to having voted in Washington, D.C. in 2020 and holding a homestead exemption there, raising questions about his Florida residency, though a judge upheld his eligibility to remain on the ballot in late July.
Sources
- Washington Examiner — Fishback’s allegations that Donalds solicited prostitutes twice in 2024, the whistleblower claim, and campaign verification statement
- Florida Politics — Donalds campaign’s denial, law enforcement source denial regarding Mills, details of Fishback’s legal troubles and campaign finance issues
- NBC News — Cory Mills under DOJ criminal investigation reported July 21, 2026
- Fox News — Confirmation of Mills DOJ investigation and nature of allegations
