Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Faces Legal Trouble
James Fishback, a candidate in Florida’s gubernatorial race, has lost his legal representation due to over $150,000 in unpaid bills linked to a protracted legal dispute with hedge fund mogul David Einhorn. This revelation comes from recent court documents.
The 31-year-old Republican, who has attracted attention for controversial remarks, has not made any payments in almost four months since being sued by his previous employer, Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital.
Fishback is set to compete against Congressman Byron Donald, backed by President Trump, in the Republican primary scheduled for August—aiming to fill the seat of the retiring Governor Ron DeSantis.
On March 12, a lawyer from the Abrams Fensterman law firm informed a federal judge that they wished to terminate representation due to Fishback’s failure to pay his legal fees. Attorney Justin T. Kelton noted that most of the outstanding amounts had been overdue for over 120 days.
Kelton further stated that Fishback had indicated he was unable to settle his existing bills or cover any future fees that might arise.
When approached for comment, Fishback humorously mentioned a personal debt, saying, “I owe my mom $20.67 for Chipotle last night. She’s the only person I’m paying back.”
Fishback has been sued by Greenlight Capital for not repaying two promissory notes totaling $300,000 issued during his employment from 2021 to 2023. Such loans are often provided as perks in Wall Street firms, helping employees with expenses ranging from home purchases to tax obligations.
A federal judge in Manhattan ruled in favor of Greenlight this past March, ordering Fishback to pay about $229,000 along with interest.
Additionally, the developments come a week after Fishback’s arbitration case against Greenlight was dismissed entirely due to his failure to appear.
Florida Congressman Randy Fine criticized Fishback, stating, “Fischbach is clearly a fraud,” suggesting that he is misleading those who support his campaign.
Fishback has carved out a niche on social media despite the backlash. He faced scrutiny for anti-Semitic remarks and labeling Donald, who is Black, as a “DEI candidate.” Following the latest conflict in the Middle East, he controversially declared, “Americans should not die for Israel.” At a recent event, students mockingly named a cafeteria dish “goythrop,” referencing a conspiracy theory about unhealthy food.
Last year, he made headlines by falsely claiming connections with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to promote cost-cutting ideas. This was met with accusations of being a “pathological liar” from Trump’s media advisor.
Greenlight’s lawsuit also pointed fingers at Fishback for falsely claiming his position as “head of macro” and exaggerating investment performance to attract funds for his new venture, Azoria Partners. They accused him of violating employment agreements by misusing confidential data to launch his fund.
However, Azoria’s key funds were liquidated last December due to lack of investor interest and ongoing legal complications.
In a controversial twist, Fishback’s personal life has come under examination due to a relationship with a 17-year-old high school student. His connection became public when the Broward County School District cut ties with a debate league he founded, learning about the involvement.
Fishback insists they began their relationship after the student turned 18, later living together and getting engaged. Last year, he was involved in a legal battle concerning allegations of stalking and domestic violence made by a former league employee, which he contested in court.
As the race heats up, Congressman Donald has emerged as the frontrunner, largely due to his name recognition and Trump’s support. Yet many voters remain undecided; a recent poll showed Donald leading with 44% while Fishback stood at 5%, with a significant 45% of voters still undecided.
Another poll targeted at younger Republican voters aged 18 to 34 indicated Fishback leading Donald with 32% to 8%, primarily propelled by his proposal for a “sin tax” on OnlyFans creators in Florida.
