James Fishback publicly retracted sex-trafficking accusations against Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills and apologized, calling his claims a “terrible mistake.”
Story Highlights
- Fishback withdrew his allegation and accepted the Department of Justice’s denial.
- The apology named both Donalds and Mills and said neither asked him to retract.
- Justice Department officials had called the earlier claim “absolutely false.”
- The timing spanned from an August claim to an October apology.
Fishback Issues Full Retraction And Apology
James Fishback said he made a mistake when he claimed in August that Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills were under federal investigation for sex trafficking. He released a written apology that retracted the charge and accepted the Department of Justice’s public statement denying any such probe. He wrote that he had trusted a source but now understood he “bore false witness,” and he apologized to Donalds, Mills, and their families for the harm caused by the claim.
Fishback’s statement specified that neither Donalds nor Mills, nor their lawyers, asked him to write the apology. He said no one from the two offices had contacted him about the allegation. The direct, named apology to both lawmakers marked a clear reversal from his August remarks, which had suggested a federal case existed. The retraction centered on accepting the Department of Justice’s position that no such investigation involved either man.
Justice Department Denial Undercut The Claim
The Department of Justice publicly rejected the assertion that Donalds faced a sex-trafficking investigation, with a spokesperson calling the claim “absolutely false.” A law-enforcement official’s account reported by media further stressed that the allegation did not match the facts. Separate coverage said any matter touching Mills was financial in nature, not sexual, which also cut against the August narrative presented by Fishback.
Contemporaneous reporting described Fishback’s original allegation as specific and serious. It referenced dates in 2024 and a location at a Maryland casino complex, with claims of solicitation and payment for sexual acts. Those details heightened the stakes and potential harm to reputations. Donalds’s campaign blasted the charge as a “baseless and defamatory sideshow,” underscoring how fast and firmly the accused camp rejected the story after it appeared online.
Timeline And Political Impact
The timing matters. The allegation surfaced in early August, less than two weeks before a Republican primary. The public apology arrived on October 28. That span meant the accusation had weeks to spread before the correction landed. Research on political misinformation shows that false charges can shape impressions even after later fixes, which is why corrections, while vital, may not fully undo reputational harm from a sensational claim.
He accused two sitting congressmen of sex trafficking.
Now he wants forgiveness.
1. In early August, James Fishback claimed U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills were under federal sex trafficking investigations.
2. He said the information came from a "trusted source."
3.…
— Anticommie (@QueenAnticommie) October 29, 2026
Fishback cited his Catholic faith when asking forgiveness and said he accepted the Department of Justice’s word that no investigation existed. That acceptance closes the door on the core charge as stated. For voters, this episode is a sobering reminder: strong accusations can move fast, especially near elections, but truth and due process must lead. When someone retracts and apologizes, the correction deserves attention equal to the original blast.
Why This Matters To Conservative Voters
Conservatives value fairness, honesty, and accountability. Smearing elected officials with claims of criminal sex conduct, without a foundation, burns trust and distracts from real issues like border security, inflation, and energy costs. The Department of Justice’s categorical denial gives a clear baseline for the facts. Responsible speech protects families, faith, and the rule of law. Elections should turn on records and ideas, not unfounded accusations that damage good people and waste public time.
What Comes Next
The public retraction, the Department of Justice denial, and the explicit apology to both lawmakers largely settle the central question raised in August. Campaigns and media should now apply the same energy to amplifying corrections as they do to viral allegations. Voters deserve clear facts and steady leadership. That starts with acknowledging when a story was wrong and moving focus back to policy, security, and liberty, where the stakes for American families are real and immediate.
Sources:
lifesitenews.com, newsweek.com, washingtontimes.com, washingtonexaminer.com, clickorlando.com
