The Department of Justice publicly denied that Rep. Byron Donalds is under federal investigation, directly contradicting explosive allegations made by one of his Republican rivals in the Florida governor’s race.
The announcement came after gubernatorial candidate James Fishback claimed Donalds was being investigated for “federal sex trafficking” in connection with scandal-plagued Rep. Cory Mills.
“Falsely accusing someone of being under investigation is a dangerous form of weaponization,” the DOJ’s Rapid Response account wrote on X. “This claim is not true. Congressman Byron Donalds is not under investigation.”
Fishback Claimed Whistleblower Came Forward
Fishback said last week that a whistleblower had approached his campaign with information he alleged implicated Donalds in criminal wrongdoing.
He publicly tied those claims to Mills and alleged that Donalds was the subject of a federal sex-trafficking investigation.
Donalds’ campaign immediately rejected the accusations as “completely false,” according to Florida Politics.
Fishback has not shared evidence establishing that Donalds is under federal investigation.
Rare DOJ Intervention
The DOJ’s decision to address the accusation publicly is notable because federal law enforcement agencies often decline to confirm or deny the existence of investigations.
That raises the stakes for Fishback, whose campaign is now facing questions over why it promoted such a serious allegation seemingly without publicly verifiable evidence.
Donalds Remains Clear Frontrunner
Donalds, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, remains the dominant candidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Recent polling reported by Florida Politics has shown him ahead by roughly 30 points, reinforcing his status as the race’s clear frontrunner.
Donalds has also benefited from strong name recognition after serving in Congress and becoming one of Trump’s more prominent allies on Capitol Hill.
Stakes Rise in Florida GOP Primary
Fishback has attempted to break through Donalds’ substantial polling advantage with increasingly sensational attacks, while Donalds’ campaign has portrayed his rival as reckless and dishonest.
The Justice Department’s categorical denial could become a major issue in the primary if Fishback is unable to substantiate his claims.
