FBI SEIZES Ballots — Georgia Officials Erupt

FBI seal overlaid on an American flag background — HUGE FBI SEIZURE

The Trump administration’s FBI has seized hundreds of boxes of original 2020 election ballots from Fulton County, Georgia, prompting a federal lawsuit that could finally expose the truth about one of America’s most controversial elections.

Story Highlights

FBI agents executed a search warrant seizing approximately 700 boxes of original 2020 ballots, voter rolls, and ballot images from Fulton County’s main election office
County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. announced a federal lawsuit against the DOJ and FBI, alleging agents took original documents despite warrant authorization only for copies
The seizure follows DOJ’s December lawsuit demanding records to investigate alleged “anomalies” in vote counting under Attorney General Pam Bondi
Fulton County officials claim no chain-of-custody inventory was provided, raising concerns about document handling and voter privacy protections

Federal Action Targets Democratic Stronghold

FBI agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at Fulton County’s main election office, seizing approximately 700 boxes containing original in-person, absentee, and provisional ballots from the 2020 election along with voter rolls and ballot images.

County Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. announced that county attorneys have filed suit in the Northern District of Georgia against the FBI and Department of Justice, characterizing the warrant as improper and the seizure as federal overreach. The FBI confirmed only that agents conducted “court-authorized law enforcement activity” without providing additional details about the investigation’s scope or specific allegations.

Chain of Custody Concerns Raise Questions

Arrington criticized federal agents for failing to provide a chain-of-custody inventory when removing the documents, noting that agents seized original ballots rather than copies despite the warrant allegedly authorizing only duplicates.

The county seeks through its lawsuit to conduct forensic accounting to determine exactly what materials were taken, ensure documents remain in Georgia under seal, and protect voter information from improper disclosure.

Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously demanded these records citing “anomalies” in vote counting, though Fulton County Clerk Ché Alexander resisted, arguing the materials remained sealed due to ongoing state litigation and that federal access required proper state court unsealing procedures.

Fulton County plans to file a motion challenging what local leaders call an unprecedented and improper seizure of 2020 election records, following an FBI search of the county's elections office last week. https://t.co/UoyXliNhdv

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 2, 2026

Background of Persistent Election Scrutiny

Fulton County, which encompasses much of Democratic-stronghold Atlanta, has faced continuous allegations of 2020 election irregularities from Trump supporters despite over 60 failed lawsuits nationwide, including cases before Trump-appointed judges.

The county became nationally prominent when District Attorney Fani Willis indicted Trump and 18 others in August 2023 for election interference, including fake electors and pressuring Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

This federal seizure represents a dramatic shift from state-level scrutiny to direct federal intervention under the Trump administration, targeting original ballots with criminal offense allegations in the warrant amid renewed claims about vote counting problems that deserve thorough investigation.

Constitutional Implications for Election Integrity

The lawsuit raises fundamental questions about federal versus state control over election records and whether proper constitutional procedures were followed. The seizure occurred after the DOJ Civil Rights Division sued Fulton County and its clerk in December 2025 to ensure federal election law compliance, with the county arguing that records remained sealed for state litigation purposes.

This action could establish significant precedent for how federal authorities access state-controlled election materials and whether local jurisdictions can effectively resist federal demands when they believe voter privacy and procedural safeguards are at stake.

For Americans who witnessed four years of election integrity concerns being dismissed as conspiracy theories, this federal investigation represents long-overdue scrutiny of a county that has been at the center of 2020 election controversies.

Legal Battle Ahead for Record Control

The county’s federal lawsuit demands return of the seized materials, seeks to limit the seizure scope through forensic review, and aims to keep documents in Georgia under appropriate court seals. Fulton County officials emphasize protecting voter privacy while ensuring any federal review follows proper legal channels rather than what they characterize as political retaliation against a Democrat area.

The Trump administration’s willingness to use federal law enforcement authority to investigate election irregularities demonstrates a commitment to getting answers that many conservatives have demanded since 2020, though critics frame the action as motivated by political grievances rather than legitimate compliance concerns.

The lawsuit’s outcome will likely influence whether similar federal actions occur in other battleground counties where election integrity questions remain unresolved.