DOJ Escalates Attack on Democracy by Demanding Personal Data of 2020 Georgia Election Workers

Over three months after the FBI’s January raid on Fulton County election offices, the Department of Justice has taken a major step up in its efforts to target the 2020 election infrastructure in Georgia’s Democratic stronghold. On Monday, the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections filed a motion asking a federal judge to quash a federal grand jury subpoena demanding the personal information of thousands of election workers and volunteers, including their names, home addresses, emails, and phone numbers.

Robb Pitts, chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, condemned the subpoena as “harassment” and “outrageous federal overreach” designed to intimidate those who administer elections. “Fulton County will not be intimidated,” Pitts declared, standing firmly with election workers who have already faced death threats fueled by false claims of fraud after the 2020 election.

The subpoena, approved by a grand jury in northern Georgia, was initiated by Dan Bishop, a former congressman and Trump loyalist now serving as U.S. attorney for North Carolina’s Middle District. Bishop has a documented history of promoting bogus election fraud claims and voted against certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. His involvement signals a politically motivated probe rather than an impartial investigation.

Fulton County’s motion, signed by county attorney Soo Jo and defense lawyer Abbe Lowell, argues the subpoena is a blatant attempt to “target, harass, and punish the President’s perceived political opponents.” The subpoena’s language directs the county to hand over sensitive data directly to Bishop rather than the grand jury, raising serious questions about the legitimacy and independence of this inquiry.

This latest DOJ demand is separate from the FBI’s earlier raid, which is overseen by Thomas Albus, another Trump appointee tasked with investigating election fraud claims. The raid itself was based on a vague affidavit investigating “unknown persons” for alleged violations related to election records and voter fraud, with no named suspects.

Critically, the DOJ has admitted that the probe originated from a criminal referral by Ken Olsen, a notorious election conspiracy theorist hired by Trump to investigate baseless fraud claims. The ongoing targeting of Fulton County election workers exemplifies the weaponization of federal law enforcement to intimidate and undermine democratic processes.

As Georgia voters participate in midterm primaries, this aggressive DOJ action threatens to further erode trust in elections and intimidate the very people who make democracy work. We will continue to track this unfolding abuse of power and hold those responsible accountable.