Online provocateur James Fishback apologized on Wednesday for falsely claiming that Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, was under federal investigation for sex trafficking.
Mr. Fishback claimed in an August press conference that federal prosecutors would “soon charge” Mr. Donalds and fellow Florida GOP Rep. Cory Mills.
At the time, Mr. Fishback was running in the Florida primary for governor against Mr. Donalds.
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The Department of Justice denied the claim, calling it a “dangerous form of weaponization.”
On Wednesday, Mr. Fishback recanted his accusations in a statement.
“I am writing this without consulting my lawyer because it is the right thing to do, regardless of the legal implications. In early August, I made a terrible mistake by claiming that Byron Donalds and Cory Mills were under federal investigation,” he wrote.
“I received this information from someone I trusted, but I accept the DOJ’s public statement that neither man is under investigation, which means that I bore false witness.”
Mr. Fishback said neither pressured him to withdraw the accusations “and neither has ever contacted me about it.”
Mr. Mills and Mr. Donalds did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“After speaking with my priest and going to confession, I have a moral obligation to publicly retract my statement and apologize,” said Mr. Fishback.
Mr. Fishback placed third in the August primary, with 10.5% of the vote.
Throughout his viral campaign, he made incendiary remarks, such as repeatedly describing Mr. Donalds, who is Black, as a “slave” to pro-Israel donors.
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