Judge Lets Trump DOJ Hold Onto Georgia 2020 Ballots Despite Flawed FBI Search

The Trump administration scored a rare legal victory this week when a federal judge ruled that the Department of Justice can retain possession of more than 600 boxes of 2020 election ballots seized from Fulton County, Georgia. The ruling comes amid an ongoing, politically motivated probe into alleged election fraud that has been thoroughly debunked.

Atlanta-based US District Judge J.P. Boulee rejected Fulton County’s request to get the original ballots back, despite finding “flaws” in the FBI affidavit used to justify the January search. However, Boulee determined these errors did not meet the high bar of “callous disregard” or intentional deception required to return the materials.

“While the Affidavit was certainly far from perfect, this is not a situation where an officer left out all the facts that might undermine probable cause or where an officer intentionally lied,” Boulee wrote in his 68-page decision.

The FBI’s search of the county’s election hub was based on claims of “deficiencies or defects” in the 2020 vote, including missing digital ballot images and improperly folded absentee ballots. These allegations stem from referrals by Kurt Olsen, a lawyer closely tied to Trump’s efforts to overturn the election, and were carried out with the unusual involvement of Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence.

Fulton County officials argue the affidavit omitted critical context showing these supposed issues had been previously investigated and debunked. An election expert testified that much of the cited evidence reflected misunderstandings of election procedures rather than misconduct.

The investigation itself faces major hurdles. DOJ lawyers have not named any targets and acknowledge the statute of limitations may have expired on the alleged crimes they are investigating. Yet the case remains a flashpoint as Trump continues to falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen and threatens federal intervention in local elections ahead of November.

Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts condemned the ruling and pledged to “vigorously” pursue all legal options to regain custody of the ballots. But for now, the Trump administration retains control over these crucial election records, fueling ongoing efforts to undermine democracy through baseless voter fraud conspiracies.