Fulton County officials filed a sealed motion in federal court Wednesday seeking the return of 2020 ballots and election records seized by the FBI during a raid last week at the county's election hub. The legal action represents an escalating confrontation between local Georgia election officials and federal authorities over control of election materials and processes.
Robb Pitts, chairman of the Fulton County board of commissioners, announced the filing during a press conference but said he could not share details about the sealed motion's contents. The filing seeks to determine what federal authorities are doing with the seized election materials and their current location.
"What are they doing with them? Where are they? We don't know," Pitts said, expressing frustration over the lack of information about the seized materials. The motion also requests that the court unseal the affidavit supporting the search warrant the FBI used to conduct the raid.
According to Pitts, he received a phone call the Monday before the FBI raid warning him that arrests would be made in the county, though no arrests have occurred as of Wednesday. The presence of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during the FBI operation particularly concerned county officials, with Pitts stating her appearance indicated the seizure was "part of a bigger effort beyond just Fulton County."
The raid targeted Fulton County's election hub, where officials maintain records from the 2020 presidential election. Georgia's election processes have faced intense scrutiny since 2020, particularly in Fulton County, which includes Atlanta and experienced significant attention during legal challenges to the presidential election results.
Pitts framed the legal battle as part of a broader effort to protect election integrity and resist federal interference in state-run elections. He expressed particular concern that the seizure represents part of a plan by President Donald Trump to take over state election operations, especially given the timing during an important election season for statewide offices.
"Since 2020, we've had 17 successful elections in Fulton County without any issues," Pitts said, defending the county's election administration record. He assured the public that the county remains focused on delivering free and fair elections but emphasized that federal interference must not be allowed to disrupt these efforts.
Democratic state lawmakers echoed Pitts' concerns about federal overreach and raised additional questions about voter privacy. They expressed worry that federal investigators might access confidential voter information, including details about how individual citizens voted.
"This is a blatant attempt by our federal government not just to intervene, but to take them over," said Representative Saira Draper during a press conference at the Georgia capitol. "We are here to sound the alarm."
U.S. Representative Stacey Evans encouraged voters to continue participating in elections despite the ongoing dispute. She urged constituents to check their voter registration status to ensure their voting rights remain protected amid the federal investigation.
The legal filing represents Fulton County's formal response to what officials characterize as unprecedented federal interference in local election administration. County officials have vowed to utilize all available resources to contest what they view as an inappropriate federal takeover of state election processes.
The sealed nature of the court filing limits public understanding of the specific legal arguments the county is making or the full scope of materials seized during the FBI raid. Federal authorities have not publicly disclosed the reasons for the search or provided details about their investigation.
This confrontation highlights ongoing tensions between federal and state authorities over election oversight and security. The dispute comes as Georgia continues to play a central role in national election debates, with Fulton County serving as a focal point for various legal challenges and investigations related to election processes.
The outcome of the county's legal challenge could have broader implications for how federal authorities interact with local election officials and the extent to which federal agencies can seize state election materials. Officials expressed frustration with what they characterized as Trump's continued focus on challenging election results and processes.
As the legal battle proceeds, Fulton County officials maintain their commitment to election integrity while resisting what they view as improper federal intervention. The sealed court proceedings will likely determine not only the fate of the seized materials but also establish precedent for federal-state relations in election administration.