Florida School District Cut Ties' With Republican Gov Candidate for Inappropriate Relationship' With Underage Student, NBC News Reports

"The student, Keinah Fort, claimed Fishback initiated a romantic relationship with her in 2022 when she was 17, and he was 27, according to court documents obtained by NBC and the website Florida Politics. Fishback explicitly directed Fort to keep the relationship a secret, according to those documents. The two met a year prior when Fort joined Fishback's nonprofit group Incubate Debate, which runs in-person tournaments for middle and high school students, Florida Politics reported."

"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, Fishback said in a statement. He also accused Fort of cyberbullying and stalking when reached by Florida Politics. Fishback said there was no evidence to support her claims and that he was fully exonerated."

"Florida Politics reported Fort's [court] petition did not detail the level of her and Fishback's alleged intimacy while she was underage, and she did not respond to multiple interview requests. The outlet said their domestic life was hardly tranquil, based on Fort's court documents. She accused Fishback of losing his temper and throwing objects at her, as well as leaving visible marks on her arms one time after grabbing her."

Keinah Fort alleged James Fishback initiated a romantic relationship with her in 2022 when she was 17 and he was 27, and directed her to keep it secret. The two met when Fort joined Fishback's nonprofit Incubate Debate, which runs in-person tournaments for middle and high school students. A Broward County School District ended Fishback's volunteer work after being informed of the relationship in 2022. Fort moved in with Fishback in 2023 and they were briefly engaged. The age of consent in Florida is 18. Fishback denied the allegations, said he was fully exonerated after court hearings, and accused Fort of cyberbullying and stalking. Fort's court petition did not detail the level of intimacy, and she did not respond to interview requests. Fort accused Fishback of losing his temper, throwing objects, and leaving visible marks on her arms.

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