Judge Rejects Fulton County's Bid to Get Back FBI-Seized 2020 Ballots

In a decisive ruling this week, a federal judge refused Fulton County’s demand to compel the FBI to return hundreds of boxes of ballots seized in January as part of a sprawling investigation fueled by allies of former President Donald Trump. The investigation targets Georgia’s 2020 election results, which Trump baselessly claims were rigged against him.

Judge J. P. Boulee, a Trump appointee, acknowledged that the seizure of more than 600 boxes of election materials was “unprecedented” and that the affidavit used to justify the raid was “defective in some respects” and contained “troubling” statements. However, Boulee concluded that Fulton County officials failed to meet the demanding legal standard to prove their rights were “callously disregarded” or that they suffered irreparable harm from the FBI’s actions.

The ruling dismantled key Fulton County arguments that the affidavit was “woefully deficient” or recklessly prepared by the FBI agent involved. Boulee noted that the affidavit presented facts both supporting and undermining probable cause, and found no intentional deception or omission that would invalidate the warrant.

Crucially, the judge found no evidence that the ballots were manipulated, misused, or publicly disclosed, nor that the secrecy of the ballots had been compromised by the seizure. This undercuts the county’s claim that the FBI’s actions threatened election integrity.

Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts responded with fierce opposition, vowing to “vigorously pursue all available legal options” and emphasizing that the county’s fight has revealed a flawed affidavit and suspicious federal timeline. Pitts reaffirmed his commitment to standing with election workers and voters amid ongoing legal battles.

This ruling comes against the backdrop of relentless efforts by Trump and his allies to undermine the 2020 election results in Georgia through unfounded voter fraud claims. Despite multiple audits and court rejections of election challenges, these attacks continue to fuel distrust in democratic processes.

The FBI’s seizure and the subsequent legal wrangling highlight the dangerous consequences of weaponizing law enforcement to target election officials and undermine public confidence. Fulton County’s ongoing resistance underscores the critical need to defend democratic norms against authoritarian overreach.