NBC News and Florida Politics report that Broward County ended a volunteer relationship with GOP gubernatorial hopeful James Fishback after a former student alleged an inappropriate relationship began in 2022 when she was 17 and he was 27. Fishback denies the allegations, says he was "fully exonerated" after court hearings, and has accused the woman of cyberbullying. Court filings also describe alleged episodes of domestic volatility. Fishback is a 30-year-old CEO running on a hard-right platform.
Broward School District Says It Cut Volunteer Ties With GOP Governor Candidate After Allegation Of Relationship With Underage Student
A Broward County school district says it ended its volunteer relationship with Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback after a former student alleged he had an inappropriate relationship with her while she was underage, according to reporting by NBC News and Florida Politics.
Allegations and Timeline
Court documents obtained by NBC News and Florida Politics say the student, Keinah Fort, alleges Fishback "initiated a romantic relationship" in 2022 when she was 17 and he was 27, and that he expressly directed her to keep the relationship secret. The pair reportedly first met in 2021 when Fort joined Fishback's nonprofit, Incubate Debate, which runs in-person tournaments for middle and high school students.
A Broward County School District official told NBC News the district "ended [Fishback's] volunteer work" soon after it was alerted to the relationship in 2022 by the mother of another student. Florida's age of consent is 18.
Developments and Denials
According to court filings, Fort moved in with Fishback in 2023 and the two were briefly engaged. Fort's filings also allege episodes of domestic volatility, including assertions that Fishback lost his temper, threw objects, and once left visible marks on her arms after grabbing her.
Fishback's response: "These allegations from several years ago are completely false, and after two lengthy court hearings in Florida's Second Judicial Circuit, I was fully exonerated. I have never been arrested, charged, or convicted of any crime," he told NBC News. He also accused Fort of cyberbullying and stalking when contacted by Florida Politics.
Fishback told NBC News that Broward's statement about cutting ties "did not make sense," saying his organization never had contractual or financial ties with the district and criticizing the school board's priorities.
Political Context
Fishback, 30, is running to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis in next November's election. He is the CEO of investment firm Azoria Partners and has campaigned on a hard-right platform, including proposals to deport foreign workers he says have "stolen a job from" Americans and public opposition to AIPAC.
Sources and Caution
The allegations come from court documents and news reports. Fishback denies wrongdoing and says he was exonerated after court hearings. Fort did not respond to multiple interview requests, and her court petition did not detail the precise nature of alleged intimacy while she was underage. The reporting presents competing claims; readers should note that these are allegations that have not resulted in criminal conviction, per available reporting.
