Trump administration can keep ballots seized in Georgia, judge rules
USA Today • • general
Key Points:
- A federal judge ruled that the Department of Justice can retain possession of over 600 boxes of 2020 election ballots seized during an FBI search in Fulton County, Georgia, supporting the DOJ's ongoing criminal investigation.
- Fulton County had requested the return of the ballots, arguing the FBI search was based on discredited evidence and violated constitutional protections, but the judge rejected this request.
- The investigation centers on alleged election record mishandling and potential voter fraud, but DOJ lawyers have not identified specific targets and acknowledge possible statute of limitations issues.
- The case is politically charged, as former President Trump continues to falsely claim widespread fraud in the 2020 election and pressures for federal scrutiny of local election processes.
- Fulton County officials and election experts maintain that the evidence cited by the FBI was based on misunderstandings or unfounded claims, emphasizing that prior investigations found no intentional misconduct.
