Judge Allows DOJ to Keep Seized Fulton County Ballots

U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee ruled Wednesday that the federal government may retain over 600 boxes of 2020 election ballots and records seized by the FBI from a warehouse in Union City, Georgia, on January 28. While Boulee described the FBI raid as "in many ways unprecedented" and noted that the underlying investigation relied on "troubling" and "previously debunked conspiracy theories," he concluded that Fulton County failed to prove its rights were "callously disregarded." The judge further noted the Justice Department had already provided copies of the seized records.

The seizure is part of a broader effort by the administration of Donald Trump to investigate alleged 2020 election irregularities across swing states, including similar actions in Maricopa County, Arizona, and Wayne County, Michigan. The Justice Department is specifically probing potential violations regarding election record maintenance and the tabulation of fraudulent ballots.

Simultaneously, Fulton County filed a motion to quash a grand jury subpoena issued in April seeking the personal contact information, including home addresses and phone numbers, of nearly 3,000 election workers and volunteers. Commission Chair Robb Pitts condemned the subpoena as an attempt to intimidate workers and discourage voting. Pitts stated the county intends to vigorously pursue all available legal options following the judge's ruling on the seized materials.