Judge to hear arguments from Fulton County seeking return of 2020 election material seized by FBI

Key Points:

• Fulton County attorneys will argue in federal court for the return of over 650 boxes of 2020 election materials seized by the FBI last month during a search warrant execution at the county's elections office.
• The county claims the FBI's seizure violated Fourth Amendment rights and constitutes a gross intrusion into state election authority, seeking a court order to return the original materials and restrict government review of copies until the case is resolved.
• The Justice Department contends the search was lawful, based on probable cause approved by a magistrate judge, and is investigating alleged irregularities and potential fraud in the 2020 election in Fulton County.
• U.S. District Judge Jean-Paul Boulee, appointed by President Trump, declined to compel testimony from the FBI agent who submitted the affidavit justifying the search, and previous mediation attempts between the county and DOJ failed, leading to the upcoming evidentiary hearing.
• The FBI investigation originated from a referral by Kurt Olsen, an attorney linked to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, while Georgia state officials have consistently defended the election's integrity despite ongoing challenges.