FBI Seizes 2020 Election Ballots in Fulton County Raid

On January 28, 2026, the FBI executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center in Union City, Georgia. Agents seized approximately 700 boxes of materials, including original 2020 general election ballots, tabulator tapes, voter rolls, and electronic images. The operation was led by Thomas Albus, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, and witnessed by FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Unsealed affidavits revealed the probe was triggered by a referral from Kurt Olsen, a Trump-appointed Director of Election Security and Integrity. The investigation seeks to determine if documented improprieties—such as missing ballot images and inconsistent tallies—were intentional criminal acts violating federal law. Donald Trump praised the operation, communicating directly with FBI agents via Gabbard's phone and later claiming that "prosecutions are coming."

Fulton County officials, including Chairman Robb Pitts and Commissioner Mo Ivory, condemned the raid as a "domestic political stunt" and an attempt at intimidation. They filed lawsuits to recover the materials and block further review, arguing that the 2020 results had been repeatedly verified. Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Jon Ossoff, described the event as a "sore loser's crusade" by the president. Meanwhile, Republicans and some state legislators defended the action as a necessary step for accountability, with some calling for a state takeover of Fulton County's election administration.