Judge Lets Trump DOJ Hold Onto 2020 Ballots Amid Baseless Fraud Probe

In a decision that fuels Donald Trump’s relentless and baseless assault on the 2020 election results, a federal judge has ruled that the Department of Justice may retain possession of more than 600 boxes of ballots and election materials seized from Fulton County, Georgia. The ruling, handed down on May 6 by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee in Atlanta, rejected Fulton County’s demand for the return of original ballots taken during a January FBI search.

This legal victory for Trump’s DOJ comes amid an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged mishandling of election records and supposed voter fraud in a county that was pivotal in Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. Despite the investigation’s high profile, DOJ lawyers have yet to identify any suspects and face serious hurdles, including the apparent expiration of the statute of limitations on the alleged offenses.

Fulton County, a Democratic bastion and the heart of Georgia’s contested 2020 election results, has been the target of repeated conspiracy theories pushed by Trump and his allies. The FBI’s search was authorized by a federal magistrate judge based on claims of “deficiencies or defects” in the 2020 vote, such as missing digital ballot images and absentee ballots not folded as required. However, experts and election officials have repeatedly debunked these claims, highlighting a fundamental misunderstanding of election procedures.

The investigation traces back to Kurt Olsen, a lawyer who helped Trump’s efforts to overturn the election and who was tasked by the White House to re-examine the vote. In a highly unusual move, Trump’s director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was present during the FBI raid, underscoring the administration’s politicized approach to law enforcement.

Fulton County’s lawyers argued that the affidavit used to justify the search omitted key context, failing to acknowledge that many of the cited issues had already been investigated and found to be unfounded or innocent errors. An election expert testified in court that the evidence cited by the FBI points to misunderstandings rather than intentional wrongdoing.

This ruling allows the DOJ to continue its politically motivated probe, which critics say is an attempt to undermine confidence in elections and justify federal interference in local election administration. As Trump continues to spread lies about election fraud, this case exemplifies how the justice system is being weaponized to support authoritarian narratives rather than uphold democratic integrity.