Fulton County Sues for Return of 700 Seized 2020 Election Boxes After FBI Raid
Updated (2 articles)
FBI Executed Jan. 28 Search Warrant at Fulton County Office The FBI entered the Fulton County elections hub in Union City on Jan. 28, 2026, under a court‑authorized warrant and began loading boxes onto trucks [2]. Agents secured physical ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic images, and voter‑roll data from the 2020 election [2][1]. The operation was confirmed by an FBI spokesperson, while Fulton County spokeswoman Jessica Corbitt‑Dominguez declined further comment [2].
Seizure Covered Approximately 700 Boxes of Ballots and Digital Data Federal agents removed roughly 700 sealed containers containing ballots, scanner tapes, image files, and related documents [1][2]. The seizure was overseen by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, with FBI co‑deputy director Andrew Bailey present, according to the county’s filing [1]. The FBI later described the action as part of a broader effort to obtain records tied to President Donald Trump’s 2020‑election fraud claims [2].
County Files Federal Suit on Feb. 4 to Recover Materials On Feb. 4, 2026, Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts filed a sealed federal lawsuit demanding the return of the seized boxes and requesting that the warrant affidavit be unsealed [1]. The complaint argues that the removal threatens election‑integrity and seeks judicial oversight of the FBI’s authority [1]. The suit adds to a separate Justice Department action against the county’s clerk for alleged non‑compliance with a federal document request [2].
Political Backdrop Features Trump Fraud Claims and Divergent Federal Leadership President Trump continues to assert unfounded fraud in Fulton County’s 2020 results, a narrative that has spurred both the FBI raid and the county’s legal response [1][2]. Democrats criticized the Jan. 28 operation as federal overreach, while Senator Mark Warner labeled the president’s personal involvement “inappropriate” [1]. The articles differ on which federal official directed the effort: Newsweek cites DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s statutory coordination role, whereas the AP notes FBI Director Kash Patel’s directive to pursue Trump‑related grievances [1][2].
Sources
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1.
Newsweek: Fulton County Sues to Recover FBI‑Seized 2020 Election Records: Details the Feb. 4 lawsuit demanding the return of about 700 seized boxes, the request to unseal the warrant affidavit, and highlights DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s involvement alongside political criticism of the raid .
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AP: FBI Executes Search Warrant at Fulton County Elections Office: Reports the Jan. 28 execution of the warrant, describes the seized materials, emphasizes FBI Director Kash Patel’s role, and notes a parallel DOJ lawsuit over the same election documents .
Videos (1)
Timeline
Nov 2020 – Voters in Georgia re‑elect President Joe Biden, while Donald Trump repeatedly claims unfounded voter‑fraud in Fulton County despite multiple investigations finding no evidence and a prior case being dismissed [1].
2025 (approx.) – The Justice Department files a lawsuit against the clerk of Fulton County’s superior and magistrate courts to compel production of 2020 election files, alleging non‑compliance with a federal request [2].
Jan 28, 2026 – FBI agents execute a court‑authorized search warrant at Fulton County’s elections office in Union City, cordon the warehouse with yellow tape and seize roughly 700 boxes containing ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic images and voter‑roll data [2].
Jan 28, 2026 – FBI Director Kash Patel directs the bureau to work closely with the Justice Department on investigations tied to Trump‑related grievances, framing the Fulton County raid as part of an accelerated effort to address the former president’s fraud claims [2].
Feb 4, 2026 – Fulton County files a federal lawsuit demanding the return of the seized 2020 election records and asks a judge to unseal the sworn affidavit that justified the search warrant, while the complaint itself remains sealed [1].
Feb 4, 2026 – Chairman Robb Pitts warns that President Trump and his allies “refuse to accept the loss,” and Senator Mark Warner labels the president’s personal involvement in the probe as “inappropriate” [1].
Feb 4, 2026 – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard defends her statutory authority to coordinate election‑security intelligence on X, emphasizing the legitimacy of the FBI’s seizure operation [1].
Feb 4, 2026 – The seizure operation, overseen by DNI Gabbard and witnessed by FBI co‑deputy director Andrew Bailey, involves roughly 700 boxes of ballots and related documents, underscoring the scale of federal involvement in the 2020 election record dispute [1].
External resources (1 links)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKSoxG1K7w (cited 1 times)