Fulton County and Trump Administration Clash Over Seized 2020 Election Ballots

Attorneys argue over FBI's seizure of materials from Georgia's most populous county, which Trump has claimed was rife with fraud.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 11:20pm

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Attorneys for Georgia's Fulton County and the Trump administration squared off in court over the county's demand that the FBI return seized ballots and other materials from the 2020 election. The county argued the seizure was 'unusual' and lacked evidence of any specific crime, while the Justice Department said it is investigating 'irregularities' in the election and has a right to retain the physical evidence.

Why it matters

The clash over the seized election materials is the latest development in the ongoing dispute between Trump and his allies, who have made unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, and election officials who have repeatedly affirmed the integrity of the results. The FBI's actions have alarmed Democrats and election officials who are concerned the Trump administration is using law enforcement to pursue personal grievances.

The details

Fulton County, which includes most of Atlanta and is heavily Democratic, has been at the center of Trump's unfounded claims that fraud cost him reelection. The Justice Department said it is investigating whether the county properly retained ballot images, whether some ballots were scanned and counted multiple times, and potential irregularities with tabulator tapes. However, Fulton County officials argued these were common human errors without any intentional wrongdoing.

  • The FBI seized the materials from a Fulton County warehouse on January 28, 2026.
  • The court hearing took place on March 27, 2026.

The players

Abbe Lowell

An attorney representing Fulton County, who argued the seizure was 'unusual' and lacked evidence of any specific crime.

A. Tysen Duva

The assistant attorney general in charge of the criminal division, who argued the Justice Department has a valid reason to investigate 'irregularities' in the 2020 election.

J.P. Boulee

The U.S. District Judge presiding over the court hearing.

Ryan Macias

An election technology and security expert who advised Fulton County during the 2020 election and testified that the affidavit used to justify the seizure contains false or misleading statements.

Donald Trump

The former president who has made unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, which Fulton County has been at the center of.

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What they’re saying

“There's nothing to support that there's an ongoing investigation that matters.”

— Abbe Lowell, Attorney representing Fulton County

“Is there a predicate reason to perform this investigation? Of course there is.”

— A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General

“Just because all of these other entities say one thing doesn't mean the FBI can't investigate.”

— A. Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General

What’s next

The judge in the case is expected to rule on whether the FBI must return the seized materials to Fulton County.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between Trump and his allies, who continue to push unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud, and election officials who have repeatedly affirmed the integrity of the 2020 results. The FBI's actions have raised concerns about the potential misuse of law enforcement to pursue personal grievances.