Judge Rules DOJ Can Keep Seized 2020 Ballots from Georgia’s Fulton County

The Justice Department can hold onto the 2020 election ballots and materials seized from Georgia’s Fulton County after an FBI raid in January, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee denied Fulton County’s request to have the documents returned, finding that the county failed to prove the seizure violated their rights or that they would suffer irreparable harm without the return.

Fulton County, Georgia’s most populous and heavily Democratic county, has been a focal point for former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud that supposedly cost him the 2020 presidential election. The ballots were taken from a warehouse near Atlanta as part of a Justice Department investigation into alleged “irregularities” during the 2020 election. The DOJ cited potential violations of laws requiring election records retention and prohibiting fraudulent ballots.

Despite multiple recounts and audits, including a hand count, confirming Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia, the Trump administration has continued to pursue election records aggressively. The seizure of ballots sparked outrage from local officials, with Fulton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts vowing to fight the ruling and defend election workers and voters.

Judge Boulee acknowledged flaws in the FBI affidavit used to obtain the search warrant, calling parts of it “defective” and “troubling.” However, he concluded these issues did not amount to a “callous disregard” for constitutional protections. The judge also rejected the county’s argument that the DOJ was using criminal investigations to bypass civil litigation procedures, noting that parallel investigations are common.

This ruling is part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration weaponizing federal law enforcement to target election officials and access sensitive voter data in swing states. Similar demands for election records have been made in Arizona and Michigan, raising alarms among Democrats and some Republicans about federal overreach and intimidation tactics.

Fulton County has also moved to quash a grand jury subpoena seeking personal information of election workers, arguing that it is overly broad and politically motivated harassment. The Justice Department has yet to comment publicly on the judge’s ruling.

The continued federal pursuit of election materials and personnel underscores the ongoing threat to democratic processes posed by efforts to undermine trust in elections. As the midterms approach, the weaponization of law enforcement against election infrastructure remains a serious concern for election integrity and civil rights advocates alike.