Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback’s running mate under criminal investigation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) - Sean Lozano, the running mate for GOP Gubernatorial Candidate James Fishback, is under criminal investigation after Lauderhill Police referred the findings of an internal affairs investigation to the State Attorney’s Office.

The State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit confirmed the criminal investigation Thursday.

“Yes, the Lauderhill Police Department referred its internal affairs unit’s investigation findings regarding the 2025 bus terminal incident to our Public Corruption Unit for review. That review by prosecutors is ongoing,” Aaron Savitski, the public information officer, said.

According to a Lauderhill Police Department (LPD) internal affairs report, the investigation stems from a March 2025 incident involving Lozano and a woman at a bus terminal.

The report concluded that during that incident, Lozano violated multiple department policies, including those related to honesty and truthfulness, body-worn camera requirements, body armor requirements, use-of-force reporting and professional conduct.

The document went on to reveal that investigators determined Lozano was not wearing or operating his department-issued body-worn camera or body armor during the incident involving the woman.

Furthermore, the report states surveillance video did not support Lozano’s written account of how the woman ended up on the ground during the encounter.

Florida Politics

The internal affairs report indicated Lozano wrote that the woman struck him in the chest and then “lost her balance” while he attempted to handcuff her. However, investigators concluded surveillance footage showed Lozano pushing the woman to the ground just before placing her in handcuffs.

The document also references body-cam footage from another officer in which Lozano said he “threw the female subject to the ground,” which the report said conflicted with the narrative he later submitted in official documentation.

As a result of the investigation, the case was referred to the State Attorney’s Office for review.

Separate employment records from the City of Lauderhill show Lozano’s employment with the police department ended Dec. 18, after city officials determined he was “permanently unfit for duty” following a fitness-for-duty evaluation.

Previously, Fishback said Lozano was a “decorated law enforcement officer.”

Lozano was announced as Fishback’s running mate in late June.

At a Thursday press conference, Fishback did not address the criminal investigation, instead throwing out unverified allegations against his opponent Byron Donalds.

He claims a “government whistleblower” told him the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Donalds for what Fishback called “sex trafficking.”

“That’s why I reluctantly came here today without a campaign sign, with a clear and expressed commitment that this will not be a part of campaign material. This will not be a part of TV ads,” Fishback said.

Fishback left without taking questions about either the purported DOJ investigation into his opponent or about the confirmed one into his running mate.

“Let me be clear. Our constitution entitles Congressman Donalds to the presumption of innocence. And while he deserves that presumption, voters deserve transparency,” said Fishback.

A spokesperson for Donalds said the allegations are “completely false.”

“We will not be distracted by this baseless and defamatory sideshow, and neither should you,” the spokesperson said.

The Department of Justice confirmed on social media Friday that Donalds is not under investigation.

“Falsely accusing someone of being under investigation is a dangerous form of weaponization,” the social media post said.

News of the criminal investigation into Lozano comes as early voting for the primary election launches statewide on Saturday.

Polls, professors and prediction markets indicate Rep. Byron Donalds is very likely to secure the nomination. However, experts say Fishback has outperformed expectations given his lack of previous political experience.

Fishback is considered to be in second place in the GOP primary race, according to some polls, while others have Lt Governor Jay Collins in second.

During the press conference on Thursday, Fishback showed text messages he claims shows Donalds was with Rep. Corey Mills in National Harbor Maryland on two different days in 2024.

According to national media reports, Mills is being investigated, but it’s not clear for what.

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