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The FBI’s recent raid on a Fulton County, Georgia election hub was based on repeatedly debunked claims of voter fraud from the 2020 presidential election, according to newly unsealed court records. The search warrant affidavit, made public Tuesday, reveals that the criminal probe originated with Trump loyalists who have long pushed election conspiracy theories.
Kurt Olsen, a former Trump campaign lawyer recently appointed as Director of Election Security and Integrity, spearheaded the investigation that led to the seizure of nearly 700 boxes of ballots and voting materials from Fulton County’s central election facility. Olsen joined the White House as a temporary special employee in October, reportedly to investigate the 2020 election and examine voting machines.
“It’s no surprise that the Trump DOJ is recycling the same election conspiracy theories Georgia officials have already investigated and debunked,” said Fair Fight CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo in a statement. “We’re now watching those false claims – pushed by the very same network of election conspiracy theorists who fueled misleading claims after the 2020 election – get dressed up and passed off as new ‘evidence.'”
Olsen’s involvement is notable given his extensive efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. He participated in Texas’ legal challenge of election outcomes in four battleground states, pushed Department of Justice officials to file a motion with the Supreme Court to nullify election results, and urged the court to order special elections. On January 6, 2021, Olsen reportedly spoke with Trump at least three times and was deeply involved in “Stop the Steal” efforts.
The affidavit also cites evidence from Clay Parikh, a cybersecurity specialist with ties to MyPillow CEO and well-known conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell. Parikh is currently working as a special government employee and was contacted by an unnamed witness from Election Oversight Group, LLC, a group led by Kevin Moncla, a conservative researcher whose claims about the 2020 election have been consistently rejected by officials and courts.
Though the affidavit lists nearly a dozen unnamed witnesses, contextual details point to several identities. “Witness 2,” described as an “obstetrician” and “Republican-appointed member of the Georgia State Election Board” who has served since early 2022, appears to be Janice Johnston, a former ob-gyn appointed to the SEB in March 2022 who has promoted election conspiracies.
Similarly, “Witness 3” is described as “the current House-appointed State Election Board member,” suggesting Janelle King, who was appointed by the Georgia House of Representatives in May 2024 and has refused to acknowledge Biden’s 2020 victory while spreading voting conspiracies.
The affidavit includes allegations of “pristine ballots” – part of a conspiracy theory concerning counterfeit ballots that was debunked by Georgia investigators in 2021. According to a state filing in a separate lawsuit, investigators were “unable to substantiate the allegations that fraudulent or counterfeit ballots were counted in the 2020 General Election in Fulton County.”
Another witness, described as a former poll worker who is now a county commissioner, raises allegations of unsecured and fraudulent ballots. This description matches Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, a former poll worker who has been an outspoken anti-voting activist on the commission.
Georgia was a crucial battleground state in 2020, with President Biden defeating Trump by approximately 11,000 votes. Despite multiple audits confirming the results and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, certifying the election outcome, claims of fraud have persisted among Trump supporters.
“You can’t slap a fresh coat of paint on disinformation and call it credible,” Groh-Wargo added. “Repurposing these conspiracy theories as federal justification is part of a broader campaign to re-litigate the past and lay the groundwork for interference in the 2026 elections.”
The FBI raid and its justification raise serious concerns about the politicization of law enforcement and the continued influence of election deniers in positions of power. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, this development highlights ongoing tensions around election integrity and the persistent impact of 2020 election conspiracy theories on American democracy.
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7 Comments
Recycling old and discredited claims about voter fraud is a waste of taxpayer money and law enforcement resources. Officials should focus on substantive issues rather than chasing after phantoms.
Agreed. These relentless efforts to undermine faith in our elections are deeply troubling and corrosive to democracy. The public deserves facts, not disinformation.
The 2020 election was extensively scrutinized and its integrity has been upheld. Continued attempts to relitigate it based on falsehoods are highly concerning. I hope law enforcement will set the record straight.
It’s disheartening to see how these discredited claims keep resurfacing. I hope authorities will firmly reject this latest attempt to sow doubt and division around our electoral process.
This is yet another attempt to revive debunked election fraud claims. The legal system has already rejected these allegations time and again. It’s concerning to see them resurface, driven by a network of conspiracy theorists.
As an investor, I’m worried to see government resources diverted to chase baseless election fraud claims instead of addressing real issues impacting the economy and markets. This does not inspire confidence.
Agreed. Policymakers should be focusing on pressing matters like supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and global uncertainty – not rehashing old conspiracy theories.