Georgia’s Fulton County went to federal court on Wednesday to demand the return of ballots and other 2020 election materials that the FBI seized from a warehouse near Atlanta last week.
County officials also asked a judge to unseal the sworn law-enforcement statement used to obtain the search warrant—though the county’s filing itself remains sealed, Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts said.
Why It Matters
The January 28 search targeted records connected to the county’s main election facility and immediately sparked political backlash. Democrats argue federal law enforcement is being deployed to target President Donald Trump’s political opponents. Trump and his allies have repeatedly focused on heavily Democratic Fulton County since he narrowly lost Georgia in the 2020 election, alleging—without evidence—that voter fraud there cost him the state.
What To Know
Because the complaint was filed under seal, it was not immediately available on Wednesday. Pitts said the case is bigger than Fulton County, framing it as a dispute with implications for how election records are handled nationwide.
County leaders also pushed back on the premise of the federal probe, saying Fulton County has administered roughly 17 elections since 2020 without incident. At a Fulton County Commission meeting Wednesday, officials said the elections department has prioritized security and that staff remained committed to maintaining public trust and supporting a peaceful transfer of power.
Trump has repeatedly insisted he won Fulton County in 2020, even though Democrat Joe Biden carried the county by a wide margin. Multiple investigations have not produced evidence supporting Trump’s claims. Trump was also investigated in connection with efforts to overturn election results before returning to office in 2025.
What Happened During the FBI Search
Federal agents seized roughly 700 boxes of ballots and other 2020 election-related documents in Fulton County last week as part of an investigation into alleged voter fraud that year. The inquiry is being led by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Andrew Bailey, the FBI’s co-deputy director, and Gabbard were both seen at the site during the operation—an appearance that fueled concerns about the scope of Gabbard’s involvement. Democrats in Congress noted that the operation appeared to fall under law enforcement, not the intelligence community.
Gabbard responded by writing to senior Democrats on the House and Senate Intelligence committees on Monday. She said Trump asked her to attend and cited what she described as her “broad statutory authority to coordinate, integrate, and analyze intelligence related to election security.”
Trump has said he wants fair and secure elections and has ordered investigations into potential fraud. Critics argue the effort is aimed at reshaping election oversight in ways that would benefit the president and undermine constitutional guardrails.
What People Are Saying
Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts, speaking Wednesday: “The president himself and his allies, they refuse to accept the fact that they lost, and even if he had won Georgia, he would still have lost the presidency.”
Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, speaking to reporters earlier this week: “Let’s be clear: It is inappropriate for a sitting president to personally involve himself in a criminal investigation tied to an election he lost.”
DNI Tulsi Gabbard, in an X post Monday: “Contrary to the blatantly false and slanderous accusations being made against me by Members of Congress and their friends in the propaganda media, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has and will continue to take action under my statutory authorities to secure our nation and ensure the integrity of our elections.”
What Happens Next
More information was expected later Wednesday about the county’s sealed court filing, including details of what Fulton County is seeking and how it argues the seizure was improper. Meanwhile, the federal investigation into the 2020 election records continues.
