ATLANTA (AP) — The FBI has obtained a search warrant to seize hundreds of boxes of ballots from election offices in Fulton County, Georgia. This operation is part of a criminal investigation into potential deficiencies or defects in the vote count from the 2020 election, which President Donald Trump lost. An affidavit unsealed recently provides the first public justification for this FBI search, targeting a county identified by Trump and his allies as central to their claims of a stolen election.


The investigation was initiated following a referral from Kurt Olsen, a lawyer for Trump’s 2020 campaign. Claims of widespread voter fraud have been extensively debunked by multiple audits, court rulings, and even Trump’s former Attorney General William Barr. Yet the seizure indicates a continued examination of allegations stemming from the election results.


The FBI's action in Fulton County— a heavily Democratic jurisdiction—has sparked concern among Democrats about possible misuse of federal resources by Trump. Despite numerous reviews confirming the election integrity, the investigation notes that Fulton County lacks scanned images of all ballots counted during the election, raising questions about the situation.


The affidavit outlines the ongoing concerns regarding the fair tabulation of votes and cites potential violations of laws concerning the retention of election records. However, it also expresses uncertainty about whether these deficiencies amount to criminal conduct, given prior investigations had found significant procedural errors but no evidence of fraud impacting the election outcome.


Fulton County officials have contested the search and are seeking the return of the confiscated materials. They emphasize that exhaustive reviews and investigations have consistently refuted claims of electoral fraud, highlighting the need for clarity and transparency in the ongoing legal processes regarding the 2020 election.


As the investigation unfolds, it is evident that the disputed nature of the 2020 election continues to fuel legal and political battles, further complicating the electoral landscape in the United States.