Byron Donalds The Swamp Thing
Byron Donalds' The Swamp and the Charter School
It’s bitterly ironic when I see some—though not most—populists rally behind Byron Donalds as their anti-establishment hero, especially as he gears up for a gubernatorial run in Florida. As a conservative—not a populist—I find this situation particularly disconcerting. The irony doesn’t stem from his checkered past, marked by accusations from his ex-wife and a criminal record that’s now been expunged—in fact this narrative might even be framed positively by populists as a turnaround. Instead, the contradiction lies in the fact that Donalds is now entangled in the very backroom, shadowy dealings that populists claim to despise. If anything, the lawsuit against Donalds and his allies reads like a primer on how to orchestrate a good, old-fashioned political power grab, replete with allegations of corruption, conspiracy, and good ol' fashioned defamation.
For those unfamiliar, Donalds, along with his wife Erika and a merry band of associates—and various education industry figures—stands accused of attempting to forcibly take over a charter school in Florida, Mason Classical Academy. The allegations are not some light critique of his leadership style; rather, the plaintiffs claim that Donalds & Co. conspired under the color of state law to deprive individuals of their civil rights, retaliate against those who opposed them, and engage in racketeering activities in violation of both federal and Florida law.
The Lawsuit That Won’t Go Away
To put this in simpler terms for the everyday voter: imagine a bunch of powerful elites deciding that your community-run school should be theirs instead. Not because they built it, or because they earned it, but because they wield enough influence to muscle in and claim dominion over it like feudal lords staking out new territory. When local officials and educators resisted, the response was allegedly coercion, smear campaigns, and defamation.
And just to add to the spectacle, this isn't just some baseless, hastily thrown-together lawsuit. No, it’s a 306-page, 841-paragraph behemoth of a complaint detailing a vast, coordinated effort to hijack a school, punish dissenters, and consolidate power.
The Alleged Plot to Seize a School
Mason Classical Academy, a successful charter school in Florida, was once free of the typical political meddling that ruins education. It was run by people who actually cared about teaching children—not lining their own pockets. That is—according to the suit—until Byron Donalds, his wife Erika, and their merry band of political operatives allegedly hatched a scheme to take over the school for their own benefit.
According to the federal lawsuit, Donalds and his allies manipulated regulations, retaliated against opponents, and orchestrated a hostile takeover—like a corporate raider gutting a company, but instead of stocks, they were playing with children’s education.
This lawsuit is so detailed and sprawling (306 pages) that the judge threw it out for being too messy—but with an invitation for a redo. Why? Because the claims themselves were too serious to dismiss outright.
So, what exactly is Donalds accused of?
Hijacking a charter school: The plaintiffs say he and his allies used legal loopholes and political pressure to force control of MCA away from its existing leadership.
Violating civil rights: They allegedly retaliated against school officials who resisted, using government authority to attack private citizens.
Running an operation that would make mobsters proud: The lawsuit invokes both federal and Florida’s RICO laws, suggesting that the power grab was more than just political—it was systemic corruption.
Smearing their enemies: Critics of the takeover—like MCA’s former leaders—were allegedly hit with defamation and smear campaigns to silence them.
This is, to put it lightly, not the behavior of a man who believes in “small government” or “draining the swamp.” If anything, it suggests that Donalds isn’t interested in ending corruption—just replacing the current crop of crooks with his own team.
Even the judge, with all the patience expected of a federal appointee, effectively rolled his eyes at the sheer mess of it all, dismissing the lawsuit for being so bloated and convoluted that it became a "shotgun pleading"—which is legalese for "too many facts that are not organized clearly." The reason? It just had too many things in it to be considered a single case.
For those hoping this lawsuit would be the end of it—that Donalds and his allies would be absolved—the reality is quite the opposite. Instead of dismissing it outright, the judge invited the plaintiffs to refine and refile their case, virtually ensuring this controversy will resurface, likely at the worst possible time: the general election. Despite Donalds’ public bravado, the allegations remain serious. For Republicans such a liability is risky because if there’s one thing that’s been made clear in Florida, it’s that parents are more vigilant than ever when it comes to their children’s education.
Populist Brawlers: “Fighting the Establishment” Turns Literal
In a display that would make even the most seasoned political satirist raise an eyebrow, the internet is forever and the conduct of Byron Donalds and his senior advisor, Larry Wilcoxson. At a Collier County Republican Executive Committee meeting, tensions escalated when Wilcoxson aggressively confronted Nick Lichter, husband of School Board candidate and plaintiff in his Donalds’ lawsuit Kelly Lichter, necessitating intervention by sheriff's deputies to prevent a physical altercation. Not to be outdone, Donalds himself was captured on video in a separate incident, vociferously admonishing Kelly Lichter in what can only be described as a public spectacle unbecoming of an elected official. Both incidents allegedly were directly related to the lawsuit in question. One would suggest that if these gentlemen are so eager to engage in theatrics, they might consider a career in the dramatic arts—though even the most forgiving critic would find their performances lacking in decorum and finesse, and sure to come up throughout the general election.
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Is This Your Guy?
These are of course allegations and should be met with some skepticism rather than taken at face value. Although those involved are pretty much all Republicans this isn’t so much a political lawsuit, but one that does raise questions not just of Donalds’ character, but also a future general election with him as the Republican candidate against a still unknown Democrat.
Now, the questions before us are