FBI Seizes Fulton County Ballots Amid 2020 Election Probe

On January 28, 2026, the normally quiet Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center in Georgia became the epicenter of a political and legal storm. The FBI, acting under a court-authorized search warrant, descended on the facility, collecting approximately 700 boxes of ballots from the 2020 presidential election. The operation, which was both highly visible and shrouded in official secrecy, has drawn intense scrutiny from across the political spectrum and reignited fierce debate over the legacy of the 2020 election.

According to CBS News, the FBI’s search warrant, signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine Salinas, targeted records related to potential violations of two federal laws: one prohibiting voter intimidation and the submission of fraudulent ballots or registration applications, and another requiring election officials to retain federal election records for 22 months. Trucks were seen loading the boxes—now evidence—destined for the FBI Central Records Complex in Virginia, as confirmed by an FBI spokesperson on the scene, CNN reported.

The presence of high-ranking federal officials underscored the gravity of the moment. Deputy FBI Director Andrew Bailey and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were both observed outside the elections office late Wednesday, a detail confirmed by both CBS News and CNN. Gabbard’s attendance, in particular, sparked questions about the federal government’s motives. "Director Gabbard has a pivotal role in election security and protecting the integrity of our elections against interference, including operations targeting voting systems, databases, and election infrastructure," a senior administration official told both outlets. The official added, "She has and will continue to take action on President Trump’s directive to secure our elections and work with our interagency partners to do so."

The search came after years of unsubstantiated claims by former President Donald Trump that the 2020 election was stolen from him, with Fulton County—a Democratic stronghold encompassing Atlanta—at the center of many of his allegations. Trump’s persistent assertions, despite multiple audits and recounts confirming President Joe Biden’s narrow win in Georgia, have kept the county in the national spotlight. As CBS News recounted, Trump famously told Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, "I just want to find 11,780 votes." Raffensperger, a Republican, stood by the results, and Georgia’s audit reaffirmed the accuracy of the paper ballot voting system. "Georgia’s historic first statewide audit reaffirmed that the state’s new secure paper ballot voting system accurately counted and reported results," Raffensperger said at the time, according to CNN.

The Justice Department’s involvement in Fulton County is not new. Last month, the department filed a civil lawsuit against Che' Alexander, the Fulton County Clerk of Courts, seeking to obtain the 2020 election ballots and related voting records. The lawsuit alleges that Alexander failed to hand over the records as required for a federal investigation into the county's compliance with election laws. Alexander has pushed back, arguing that the records are under seal and would need to be unsealed by a state judge. As of January 28, 2026, no ruling has been issued in the case, and the legal tug-of-war continues.

The operation’s immediate impact was felt among county officials. Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. shared the search warrant on social media and confirmed the FBI’s focus on hundreds of boxes of ballots. State Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Democrat, reported seeing the FBI evidence response team load boxes into trucks. Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts addressed reporters with a tone of frustration and resignation. "All I know is that as long as those boxes have been in control of the county in this facility that they were safe and they were secure," Pitts said, according to CNN. But after the FBI’s removal of the ballots, he added, "We can no longer, and I can no longer as chair of this board, satisfy not only the citizens of Atlanta but the citizens of the world that those ballots are still secure."

The political reaction was swift and heated. Democratic officials in Georgia and beyond condemned the search as politically motivated and lacking factual basis. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia said, "I suspect today's raid is a continuation of this sore loser's crusade, despite repeated audits and independent reviews confirming that Donald Trump was indeed defeated." Rep. Nikema Williams, also of Georgia, demanded that the FBI halt its investigation, writing, "Raids and renewed investigations based on the lie that President Trump won the election lack a factual basis and only serve to intimidate voters and undermine the integrity of our upcoming elections."

Charlie Bailey, Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, told CNN, "Every Georgian should be alarmed that Donald Trump is wielding federal law enforcement to push his baseless, dangerous lies about winning the 2020 election." Other Democrats, such as Jason Esteves and former Republican lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan (now running as a Democrat), echoed these sentiments, describing the operation as an abuse of power and a threat to the democratic process. Esteves even linked the search to broader efforts by the Trump administration, suggesting a pattern of using federal agencies for political ends.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, directly questioned Director Gabbard’s presence at the search. He argued, "There are only two possible explanations" for her involvement: either a legitimate foreign intelligence nexus, which would require informing Congress, or "she is once again demonstrating her utter lack of fitness for office by injecting the nonpartisan intelligence community she is supposed to be leading into a domestic political stunt designed to legitimize conspiracy theories that undermine our democracy."

The Justice Department, for its part, has been tight-lipped about the specifics of the ongoing investigation. The FBI stated, "Our investigation into this matter is ongoing," and declined to provide further details. The White House referred all questions to the FBI, maintaining a public distance from the operation. Meanwhile, the Justice Department’s ongoing civil case seeks not only the ballots but also ballot stubs and absentee ballot signature envelopes, aiming to assess whether Fulton County complied with federal voter registration laws.

While the search has intensified partisan divides, it also highlights the enduring legacy of the 2020 election and the persistent challenges facing American democracy. Georgia’s own audit and recount processes found no evidence of widespread fraud, a fact repeatedly confirmed by state and federal officials. Yet the controversy refuses to subside, fueled by ongoing legal battles and the ever-present shadow of political maneuvering.

As the legal process unfolds and the FBI’s investigation continues, the fate of Fulton County’s ballots—and the broader question of election integrity in America—remains uncertain. For now, the boxes are gone, the questions are many, and the nation is once again watching Georgia’s elections with bated breath.