Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback’s – Business News
Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback has been dumped by his own attorneys, who accused him of racking up more than $150,000 in unpaid payments from his long-running legal spat with hedge fund titan David Einhorn, The Post has realized.
Court filings show the 31-year-old Republican — who has spouted conspiracy theories about Jewish people on the marketing campaign path — has did not cough up the money for almost 4 months after he was sued by his former employer, Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital.
Fishback is set to face off in opposition to President Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds within the GOP major this August to succeed outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Fishback, a former hedge funder, is operating to be the GOP’s candidate to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. x/j_fishback
Attorneys for Abrams Fensterman LLP instructed a Manhattan federal decide on March 12 that they wished to give up representing Fishback as a result of the candidate had racked up $150,000 in unpaid charges. “Most of this balance has been outstanding for more than 120 days,” Fishback’s lawyer Justin T. Kelton wrote.
Kelton added that Fishback “has informed the Firm that (i) he is unable to pay the outstanding and overdue balance, and (ii) he will not be able to pay fees that may be incurred for any future work that may be required going forward.”
Asked for remark Friday, Fishback instructed The Post: “I owe my Mom $20.67 for Chipotle last night. She is the only one I’ll be paying back.”
Greenlight Capital sued Fishback for allegedly failing to repay two promissory notes price $300,000 the firm prolonged to him during his tenure there from 2021 to 2023. Wall Street companies generally lend money to workers as a perk, which can be utilized to help buy a home, cowl shifting prices, or easy out taxes on a massive bonus.
A Manhattan federal decide granted Greenlight full abstract judgment in March 2025, ordering Fishback to pay about $229,000 plus curiosity.
David Einhorn’s Greenlight Capital sued Fishback over unpaid loans and accused him of utilizing confidential data to begin his own fund, Azoria Partners. Bloomberg through Getty Images
The newest legal developments come simply a week after a separate arbitration case Fishback filed in opposition to Greenlight was tossed out fully as a result of he did not show up.
“Fishback is cleary a con arist,” stated US Rep. Randy Fine, a Florida Republican. “Right now, he is grifting off those he has suckered into supporting his campaign.”
Fishback has constructed up a area of interest following on social media with a string of antisemitic remarks and calling Donalds, who’s black, a “DEI candidate.”
Fishback claimed that “Americans shouldn’t die for Israel” after the beginning of the Iran warfare. At a rally on the University of Central Florida in early February, he branded the faculty’s cafeteria food as “goyslop,” alluding to an alt-right conspiracy principle that unhealthy food is a Jewish plot in opposition to non-Jews.
Fishback bought consideration final yr by falsely telling media shops he was working intently on cost-cutting with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency.
He beforehand instructed The Post that he got here up with the thought to supply DOGE-dividend checks to extraordinary Americans as a outcome of financial savings made by the now-defunct division.
Rep Randy Fine blasted Fishback as “a con artist” and stated he can be “catastrophic” as if he pulled off an unlikely upset to change into Governor of the Sunshine State. REUTERS
Alex Bruesewitz, a media advisor to President Trump, blasted Fishback final November as a “pathological liar,” calling his claims to be concerned with the project “a complete fabrication.” Former DOGE spokeswoman Katie Miller has additionally denied that he had any involvement.
Greenlight Capital sued Fishback in 2024, alleging that he falsely claimed to be the firm’s “Head of Macro” and misstated his investment efficiency of reaping $100 million in income to draw buyers to his new enterprise, Azoria Partners.
Their lawsuit additionally alleged Fishback was a poor performer, constantly failed to fulfill expectations, and was set to be fired for low productiveness earlier than resigning.
Fishback is set to face off in opposition to President Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds within the GOP major this August to succeed outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis. AP
The firm additionally accused the junior money man of violating his employment settlement by sharing confidential portfolio information to help begin Azoria.
But that enterprise noticed its two flagship exchange-traded funds liquidated by unbiased trustees in December 2025 amid restricted investor curiosity and ongoing litigation involving the firm’s principal.
Fishback has additionally come below scrutiny for a relationship with a 17-year-old high faculty scholar. In 2022, the Broward County School District in Florida cut its ties with a debate league Fishback based after studying of his relationship with the younger scholar, who participated in this system.
Former DOGE spokeswoman Katie Miller has additionally denied that he had any involvement with the cost-cutting project led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Getty Images
Fishback has stated the connection started after she turned 18. The pair later lived collectively and have become engaged.
Last yr, the lady — who had additionally labored for the league — sought a protecting injunction, alleging stalking and home violence. Fishback defeated the petition in courtroom, denied the allegations, and by no means confronted felony expenses.
Congressman Donalds has emerged because the clear frontrunner within the GOP election, scheduled for August, and is closely buoyed by his title recognition and Trump’s endorsement.
Still, many citizens are undecided. Donalds has backing from 44% of seemingly GOP major voters in comparison with Fishback’s 5% — leaving 45% undecided, in accordance with a current ballot from The American Promise.
A survey from the University of North Florida has Fishback — who has advised slapping a “sin tax” on Florida’s Only Fans creators — forward of Donalds amongst GOP voters aged 18 to 34 by 32% to Donalds’ 8%.
