Screenshot via James Fishback/YouTube
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Amid his rage-bait-driven, white-supremacy-laden run for Florida governor, James Fishback has faced mounting financial troubles.
In September 2025, the 35-year-old far-right Republican candidate’s 2022 Tesla Model Y was repossessed by U.S. Marshals over a more than $200,000 debt owed to his former employer. In early March, leaked text messages reported by The Bulwark revealed that Fishback’s staffers believed that the feds had also seized his couch (yes, his couch) amid his growing personal financial woes. And campaign finance records show that as of December, the long-shot candidate had raised just $22,000 in campaign funds — a stark contrast to his opponent, Byron Donalds, who has raked in tens of millions.
Now, Fishback appears to have another problem: an attorney in one of several lawsuits he’s facing is seeking to withdraw, claiming Fishback owes him and his firm $150,000.
As first reported by The Bulwark‘s Will Sommer, attorney Justin Kelton of Abrams Fensterman, LLP asked U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer on Wednesday for permission to withdraw as Fishback’s counsel in a lawsuit filed by his former employer. The suit, filed in 2024 by Greenlight Capital, accuses Fishback of a range of actions, including breach of contract and defaming the company to attract investors.
The reason for withdrawing? Kelton says Fishback owes the law firm more than $150,000 in legal fees.
“Defendant 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,” the motion reads.
According to his attorney, as work progressed, Fishback was “unable to keep current with the fees and costs incurred.” They say most of the $150,000 has been outstanding for nearly five months.
“Defendant and I have discussed these circumstances repeatedly, and Defendant does not dispute that the Firm is owed substantial fees and costs that have been outstanding and overdue for a substantial period,” the motion reads.
As of Thursday afternoon, Kelton was still listed as Fishback’s attorney for the case.
In response to New Times‘ request for comment about his attorneys’ motion to withdraw, Fishback sent the following via text message:
“I owe my mom $20.67 for Chipotle last night. She is the only one I’ll be paying back.”
During his campaign, Fishback has earned the nickname “Groyper candidate” while courting Gen-Z men and aligning himself with the likes of white nationalist streamer Nick Fuentes. He’s faced regular criticism for his racist remarks about his opponent, Byron Donalds, whom he has called a “slave to donors” and a “token Black” in Congress who wants to turn Florida into a “Section 8 ghetto.” He’s also suggested a fifty percent “hoe tax” on OnlyFans creators and faced sexual misconduct allegations involving a 17-year-old student from a debate club he ran (he was supposedly 27 at the time of the alleged relationship).
