Fulton County Demands Return of 2020 Election Materials Seized in FBI Raid

Officials file motion challenging legality of federal seizure of election records

Feb. 4, 2026 at 10:15am

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Fulton County, Georgia officials have filed a motion demanding the return of election materials related to the 2020 election that were seized during an FBI raid at the end of January. The motion challenges the legality and scope of the federal seizure and asks the court to restore the records to the county's custody.

Why it matters

The raid and seizure of election materials have sparked concerns about potential interference in the 2026 midterm elections and renewed questions about the validity of the 2020 election results in Georgia, which have long been disputed by former President Trump.

The details

Federal investigators arrived at the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center on Jan. 28 and collected more than 600 boxes of materials, including physical ballots, voter rolls and photos of ballots from the 2020 election. On Feb. 4, Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington, Jr. announced the filing of a motion challenging the legality of the search and seizure, requesting the court to order the FBI to return the election materials to the county's custody.

  • On Jan. 28, the FBI raid took place at the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center.
  • On Feb. 4, Fulton County officials filed a motion demanding the return of the seized election materials.

The players

Fulton County

The county in Georgia where the FBI raid took place and where officials are seeking the return of the seized election materials.

Marvin Arrington, Jr.

A Fulton County Commissioner who announced the filing of the motion challenging the legality of the federal seizure of election records.

Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)

The federal law enforcement agency that conducted the raid and seized the election materials from the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center.

William Barr

The former Attorney General under President Trump, who deemed the 2020 election in Georgia as "accurate and secure".

Brad Raffensperger

The Georgia Secretary of State who oversaw the 2020 election and has repeatedly assured the validity of the results, and is now making a gubernatorial bid.

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What they’re saying

“This morning's filing could not have come fast enough; justice delayed is justice denied. The people of Fulton County deserve justice now, and that's why I pushed so hard to get this motion filed as soon as possible.”

— Marvin Arrington, Jr., Fulton County Commissioner (USA Today)

“We are deeply concerned that President Trump's consistent spreading of misinformation and dangerous conspiracy theories about the 2020 election fundamentally undermines the electoral process, endangers election workers, and erodes public trust in our democracy. This unprecedented seizure only heightens those concerns.”

— Lucy McBath, Nikema Williams, and Raphael Warnock, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators from Georgia (USA Today)

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to grant Fulton County's motion to order the FBI to return the seized election materials.

The takeaway

The Fulton County raid and seizure of 2020 election materials have reignited concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the perpetuation of false claims about the 2020 election, underscoring the ongoing political tensions surrounding voting rights and election security in Georgia.