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FBI Raids Georgia Election Office Amid Trump’s Disputed 2020 Fraud Claims
Federal agents executed a search warrant at a Fulton County election facility near Atlanta on Wednesday, seizing records related to the 2020 presidential election as part of President Donald Trump’s continued efforts to investigate his claims of voter fraud.
The FBI confirmed conducting a “court-authorized law enforcement activity” at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center in Union City, a warehouse-style facility opened in 2023. According to a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity, agents were seeking computers and ballots as part of an investigation into possible election interference.
Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory said federal officials collected approximately 700 boxes of ballots from a secure location. In a video posted to social media from inside the election center, she accused Trump of “trying to create chaos” to benefit Republicans in the upcoming November midterm elections.
“We know in America right now it does not even matter if what you are saying is the right thing. If our president wants to bring in the forces, he will,” Ivory told reporters, describing the federal action as “an assault on voters.”
In an unusual development, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard visited the search site on Wednesday. Reuters previously reported that Gabbard had formed a group of officials across the federal government, including Justice Department personnel, helping steer Trump’s efforts against his perceived adversaries.
Senator Mark Warner, vice-chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, sharply criticized Gabbard’s presence, saying she was “demonstrating her utter lack of fitness for office that she holds by injecting the non-partisan intelligence community she is supposed to be leading into a domestic political stunt.”
The search follows Trump’s recent comments in Davos, Switzerland, where he reiterated his longstanding claims that the 2020 election was “rigged” and promised that “people will soon be prosecuted for what they did.” Multiple reviews, audits, and court cases have found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, which Joe Biden won.
Last month, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit seeking Fulton County’s 2020 ballots and has asked a federal judge to order county court clerk Che Alexander to hand over “physical ballots, stubs and absentee ballot envelopes for the 2020 General Election.” Alexander requested dismissal of the lawsuit, noting that the ballots are sealed under state law and that the administration should instead petition the county Superior Court.
Fulton County, a Democratic-leaning area that includes Atlanta, supported Biden by a significant margin in 2020. Trump had previously pressured Georgia election officials to “find” votes to overturn his loss in the state. Several reviews, including a hand audit of ballots, confirmed Biden’s narrow victory in Georgia.
The raid is part of a broader pattern of the current Justice Department, led by Trump appointee Pam Bondi, investigating Trump’s critics or those who have resisted his agenda. The department has pursued cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom led previous investigations into Trump.
The Justice Department has also filed lawsuits against several states beyond Georgia, demanding large volumes of voter data. Some states have challenged these demands as unconstitutional infringements on their authority to manage elections, with several judges dismissing the suits, most recently in Oregon.
Earlier this month, Trump asked a Georgia state court for $6.2 million in legal fees he claims to have spent fighting election interference charges filed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. That case was dismissed last year following revelations of a romantic relationship between Willis and one of the lawyers she hired for the prosecution.
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10 Comments
Voter fraud is a serious accusation. I’ll be following this story closely to see if the FBI uncovers any credible evidence to substantiate the claims that have been made.
Voter fraud claims have been a divisive topic, but the public deserves to know the truth. Hopefully this search will provide some much-needed clarity, one way or the other.
Regardless of partisan affiliation, we should all want to see a fair and transparent investigation into any potential voting irregularities. The American people deserve nothing less.
This is a complex and contentious issue. I hope the authorities can cut through the political noise and provide the public with a clear, fact-based account of their findings.
While I remain skeptical of unsubstantiated fraud allegations, I welcome any legitimate efforts to ensure the reliability of election results. Integrity of the democratic process is paramount.
Regardless of one’s political leanings, I hope this search is conducted professionally and impartially to uncover the facts. Preserving public trust in the democratic process should be the top priority.
Well said. Maintaining the integrity of elections is critical for a healthy democracy, even if the outcomes are sometimes controversial.
I’ll be curious to see what, if any, evidence of election interference is uncovered. Accusations of fraud have been rampant, but solid proof has been elusive so far.
This is a sensitive and politically charged issue. I hope the FBI’s investigation is thorough, objective and transparent, whatever the findings may be.
Interesting development in the ongoing saga around the 2020 election. While voter fraud claims have been widely disputed, it’s important the authorities thoroughly investigate any potential irregularities to uphold electoral integrity.