Fulton County Sues FBI and DOJ Over Seizure of 2020 Ballots in Georgia Election Raid
Fulton County, Georgia officials say they will file a federal lawsuit against the FBI and Justice Department over a January search and seizure tied to the 2020 presidential election’s records. The county’s legal move comes amid intense political and legal conflict over the raid that unfolded at a main election facility near Atlanta.
The lawsuit, expected to be filed as early as Monday, alleges federal agents went beyond the scope of their authority when executing a court-authorized search warrant that resulted in the removal of hundreds of boxes of ballots and election records from the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center.
The FBI has declined to publicly disclose the detailed allegations behind the warrant, but agents seized physical ballots, tabulator tapes and voter rolls tied to the 2020 general election in a rare law enforcement action that has drawn widespread attention.
Fulton officials argue the seizure contradicts prior civil court protections for certain records and potentially exceeds what the warrant authorized. Critics also point to questions about the statute of limitations on 2020 election laws and whether probable cause was properly established.
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“Nothing justifies trampling the rule of law or compromising the integrity of election materials,” a Fulton County official said in a statement.
The lawsuit underscores rising tensions over federal election interventions with midterm elections approaching and follows public scrutiny of the involvement of national figures, including the Director of National Intelligence’s presence during the search.
Legal experts say the suit could hinge on whether federal agents exceeded their statutory authority and violated local or federal court orders. The case could set early legal precedent on federal law enforcement’s access to certified election records. Next steps include the formal filing and an expected court hearing on motions from both sides.
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