FBI Examines Arizona Election Records in Widening Probe of Trump Vote Fraud Claims

Federal law enforcement continues to pursue former President Trump's false claims of voting fraud in the 2020 election.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The FBI has obtained records related to the 2020 election in Arizona's Maricopa County, as part of a widening federal probe into former President Donald Trump's false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The FBI subpoenaed the Arizona Senate for material connected to a Republican-led audit of the 2020 election results in Maricopa County, the state's most populous county.

Why it matters

This investigation is the latest instance of the Trump administration deploying U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies to gather evidence of alleged irregularities in the 2020 election, despite courts and audits repeatedly rejecting claims of widespread voter fraud. The probe into Arizona and Georgia, two hotly contested states in recent presidential elections, raises concerns about the potential "weaponization" of federal law enforcement to serve political interests.

The details

The FBI seized 2020 ballots from a Georgia county elections center in January as part of a court-approved search. The 2021 Maricopa County audit, run by Trump's Republican allies in Arizona, largely affirmed the initial 2020 election results, finding slightly more votes for Trump's Democratic opponent Joe Biden. However, the audit made several claims of election irregularities, which county officials vigorously disputed.

  • The FBI subpoenaed the Arizona Senate last week for material connected to the Maricopa County audit.
  • In January, the FBI seized 2020 ballots from a Georgia county elections center as part of a court-approved search.

The players

Warren Petersen

Arizona Senate President, a Republican.

Kris Mayes

Arizona State Attorney General, a Democrat.

Kurt Olsen

A lawyer who backed the "Stop the Steal" movement to overturn the 2020 election results, and has been put in charge of an effort by former President Trump to reexamine the 2020 vote.

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What they’re saying

“The FBI has the records.”

— Warren Petersen, Arizona Senate President (Social media post)

“What the Trump administration appears to be pursuing now is not a legitimate law enforcement inquiry. It is the weaponization of federal law enforcement in service of crackpots and lies.”

— Kris Mayes, Arizona State Attorney General (Statement)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the FBI to continue its investigation into the 2020 election records in Arizona.

The takeaway

This investigation highlights the ongoing political tensions and disputes over the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, with the Trump administration continuing to push false claims of widespread voter fraud despite a lack of evidence. The involvement of federal law enforcement in these matters raises concerns about the potential misuse of government resources for partisan purposes.