A federal judge has ordered that the ballots seized from Fulton County be unsealed. The materials, related to the 2020 election, are to be released no later than Tuesday.
“Although Petitioners originally filed this case under seal, both parties have now indicated to the Court that they do not oppose unsealing the docket or the motions filed by Petitioners,” Judge J.P. Boulee wrote in the order. “Moreover, Respondent has stated that it does not oppose the unsealing of the search warrant affidavit and any other papers associated with the warrant subject to the redaction of the names of nongovernmental witnesses.”
The order comes as the county’s election officials filed a lawsuit demanding that the materials be returned. The lawsuit argues that the seizure of “original records infringes upon Petitioners’ ability to safeguard election integrity, maintain accurate records, and reassure voters that their ballots will not be manipulated or misused.” It further stated that the Justice Department’s action “constitutes a callous disregard for Georgia’s sovereignty over its elections.”
“The seizure of all 2020 election records in a highly public and intimidating show of federal force, with the conspicuous onsite presence of the Director of National Intelligence and the Deputy Director of the FBI, directly threatens that interest,” the filing added.
Federal agents recently removed nearly 700 boxes containing ballots and other materials after obtaining a search warrant.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present at the raid, sparking backlash. She defended her presence, declaring in a letter that it was “requested by the President and executed under my broad statutory authority to coordinate, integrate and analyze intelligence related to election security, including counterintelligence, foreign and other malign influence and cybersecurity.”
