ORLANDO, Fla. – Ahead of the primaries later this month, Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback has launched accusations that competitor Byron Donalds is under federal investigation for sex trafficking.
Fishback made the announcement on Thursday via social media, touching on a similar alleged investigation involving U.S. Rep. Cory Mills.
According to Fishback — who referenced an anonymous “government whistleblower” — the investigation surrounding Mills expanded to include Donalds.
On July 21st, 2026, NBC News reported that Republican Florida Congressman Cory Mills was under criminal investigation by the Department of Justice.
Like virtually every federal investigation, this one began with a single suspect before expanding to include others.
A government… pic.twitter.com/JQNVFtOkmT
— James Fishback (@j_fishback) August 6, 2026
“Federal prosecutors are looking at two dates in question: May 17th, 2024, and November 19th, 2024,” his post reads. “Dates when Congressmen Mills and Donalds are said to have traveled to the MGM National Harbor — a luxury hotel resort in Oxon Hill, Maryland, where they solicited, procured, and paid women for explicit sexual acts.”
[RELATED: US Rep. Cory Mills faces DOJ criminal investigation, sources say]
Fishback said his legal team managed to “independently verify this investigation,” claiming that a third party revealed messages from Rep. Mills confirming that he and Donalds were at the MGM Harbor on both of those dates.
Supposed text messages between U.S. Rep. Cory Mills and a third party, shared by Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback (James Fishback)
Per Fishback’s post, a federal prosecutor asked the DOJ whether Donalds was under investigation, though the agency reportedly refused to comment.
“They refused to do so despite clearing Florida Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of any criminal conduct in a letter just two weeks ago,” the post continues.
A copy of the letter shared by Fishback (James Fishback)
Fishback has had a contentious relationship with Donalds as the primary season has progressed, with both vying for the Republican candidacy.
News 6 has reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Donalds campaign for more details about these accusations, and is awaiting a response.
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