Leavitt Criticizes Media for Questioning Fulton Election Investigation While Previously Supporting Russia Claims

In a tense White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the FBI’s recent seizure of 2020 election materials in Fulton County, Georgia, while criticizing media outlets for their questioning of the operation.

The FBI executed a search warrant in January in the Atlanta-based county, with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard personally deploying to conduct an election security assessment. This unusual move has prompted significant backlash from Democratic lawmakers and media organizations who have characterized it as a politically motivated action.

“As the director of national intelligence, it is a part of Miss Gabbard’s role to make sure that American elections are free of foreign interference and that American elections are safe and secure,” Leavitt explained during the briefing. She added that President Trump “wholeheartedly supports both Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard in ensuring that American elections are safe, secure, and free of foreign intervention.”

When a reporter pressed Leavitt about whether there was any evidence of foreign influence in Fulton County’s 2020 election materials, the press secretary delivered a pointed response highlighting what she perceived as media hypocrisy.

“Excuse me one second. It’s the media who has said that there’s Russian interference in American elections. You guys have been saying that for many, many years,” Leavitt countered. “The people in this room, considering that you all said for many years that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump, should all be very happy that we finally have an administration that is looking into that.”

The exchange underscores the ongoing tensions between the current administration and the press corps over election security issues. Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold that was crucial in President Biden’s 2020 Georgia victory, has become a focal point in post-election investigations.

The county has filed a motion seeking the return of the seized election materials, with local officials expressing concern about the federal government’s actions. Reports indicate Fulton County is also planning to sue over the seizure, signaling an escalating legal battle between local and federal authorities.

The FBI operation comes amid the Trump administration’s broader focus on reviewing aspects of the 2020 election, which Trump has consistently claimed was marred by irregularities. Critics view these efforts as attempts to undermine legitimate election results, while supporters maintain they are necessary to ensure election integrity.

Leavitt’s reference to the Russia investigation recalls the extensive probe conducted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which concluded in March 2019. That investigation determined there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, though it documented multiple Russian efforts to interfere in the electoral process.

The current situation presents a striking role reversal, with the Trump administration now citing concerns about election interference to justify federal investigations into voting processes in key Democratic-leaning areas.

The presence of Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who switched parties and became a Trump ally, adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Her involvement in the Fulton County operation represents a significant departure from typical intelligence community protocols, according to numerous national security experts.

As the administration continues its election security assessments, the confrontation highlights the deeply polarized nature of election administration and oversight in America, with fundamental disagreements about the balance between federal authority and local control of elections continuing to shape the political landscape.