FBI Removes Approximately 700 Fulton County Ballot Boxes, Officials Observe Seizure
Updated (2 articles)
Hundreds of ballot boxes seized under sealed warrant Agents from the FBI arrived at Fulton County’s election headquarters on Jan 28 2026, loading roughly 700 sealed ballot boxes and related 2020 election records onto box trucks for transport to the FBI Central Records Complex in Virginia [1][2]. The sealed search warrant listed ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic ballot images, and the full voter roll as items to be seized. County officials were not permitted to view the interior of the storage area during the operation.
Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Bailey present at the raid Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey stood beside the trucks as agents removed the materials, underscoring the high‑level federal interest in the investigation [1][2]. Gabbard’s involvement was highlighted by a senior administration official as reflecting a “pivotal role in election security” tied to the Trump administration’s agenda. Their presence drew additional media attention and political scrutiny.
County leaders barred, ballot security questioned Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts arrived after noon but was denied entry, only able to glimpse the activity from outside, while election board Chair Sherri Allen’s request for document copies was rejected [1][2]. Pitts warned that the county could no longer guarantee the safety of the remaining ballots, echoing concerns from other local officials. The lack of transparency fueled uncertainty among voters and election monitors.
Partisan reactions intensify as DOJ seeks records Democratic figures such as Georgia Democratic Party Chair Charlie Bailey and gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan condemned the raid as a politically motivated attack, linking it to broader efforts to overturn the 2020 results [1][2]. Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Victor Anderson, defended the legality of the warrant. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has filed a civil suit demanding immediate release of the seized documents and is suing two dozen states for non‑public voter‑roll data [2].
Sources
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1.
King5: FBI Seizes Hundreds of Fulton County Ballot Boxes in Sealed Search: details the sealed warrant, the removal of hundreds of ballot boxes, presence of Tulsi Gabbard and Andrew Bailey, and notes that county officials were barred from observing the seizure while highlighting improvements in Fulton’s election system since 2020 .
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2.
CNN: FBI Executes Warrant at Fulton County Elections Office Amid 2020 Fraud Probe: reports the seizure of approximately 700 ballot boxes, describes the DOJ’s civil case and lawsuits against other states, emphasizes Gabbard’s role tied to a Trump directive, and records Democratic condemnation of the operation as a political attack .
Timeline
2020 – Independent monitors label the Fulton County primary “especially disastrous,” citing “sloppy processes” and “systemic disorganization,” which fuels later fraud allegations and federal scrutiny [2].
2023 – The Georgia State Board of Elections declines to take over Fulton County’s election system, indicating modest improvements since the 2020 chaos [2].
2024 – A statewide monitoring team describes Fulton’s general‑election operations as “organized and orderly,” underscoring the county’s progress and setting a benchmark for future oversight [2].
Jan 28, 2026 – FBI agents execute a sealed search warrant at Fulton County’s election hub, loading roughly 700 ballot boxes onto trucks for transport to the FBI Central Records Complex in Virginia [1][2].
Jan 28, 2026 – The warrant lists every 2020 ballot, tabulator tapes, electronic ballot images, and the full voter roll, but county officials are barred from observing the seizure; Chairman Robb Pitts can only “peek” inside and later says, “the ballots were previously safe but, after the seizure, the county can no longer assure the public that the materials remain secure” [2][1].
Jan 28, 2026 – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey appear on site, with a senior administration official noting Gabbard’s “pivotal role in election security” as part of President Trump’s directive to protect the vote [1][2].
Jan 28, 2026 – Democratic leaders denounce the raid as a “political attack,” with Georgia Democratic Party Chair Charlie Bailey, former Lt. Gov Geoff Duncan, and candidate Jason Esteves linking it to broader Trump‑era challenges to the 2020 results [1].
Jan 28, 2026 – Republicans defend the operation’s legality, while Rep. Saira Draper warns it could become a pretext for future actions and Sen. Mark Warner questions Gabbard’s motives, highlighting partisan splits over the investigation [2].
Jan 28, 2026 – The Department of Justice files a civil suit seeking immediate release of the seized 2020 election records and continues lawsuits against two dozen states for non‑public voter‑roll data; the court’s ruling remains pending [1].