Judge Hears Arguments Over Seizure of Fulton County 2020 Election Records

Fulton County officials argue FBI warrant lacked evidence of intentional misconduct

Mar. 27, 2026 at 11:00pm

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A federal judge heard arguments on Friday over the FBI's seizure of more than 650 boxes of 2020 election records from a Fulton County, Georgia election site. Fulton County's expert witness, Ryan Macias, testified that the FBI's warrant application lacked a 'basis in reality' and contained incorrect and contradictory information. The Department of Justice argued that criminal investigations often stem from matters where initial probes found no wrongdoing, but Macias disputed this claim. The judge will now decide whether to force the Trump administration to return the sensitive election records.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing disputes over the 2020 election in Georgia, where former President Trump has long pushed to overturn the results. The seizure of the Fulton County records was triggered by an attorney close to Trump who sought to overturn the 2020 election, raising concerns about the political motivations behind the investigation.

The details

Fulton County's expert witness, Ryan Macias, testified that the FBI's warrant application lacked evidence of intentional misconduct and relied on incorrect information. Macias went through each of the claims made in the application and debunked or cast doubt on the allegations. The Department of Justice argued that criminal investigations often stem from matters where initial probes found no wrongdoing, but Macias disputed this claim. Fulton County officials have pushed for the return of the records, arguing the investigation focuses on 'human errors that its own sources confirm occur in almost every election … without any intentional wrongdoing whatsoever.'

  • The FBI executed the search warrant in January 2026.
  • The hearing took place on Friday, March 27, 2026.

The players

Ryan Macias

An elections expert with twenty years of experience who testified as Fulton County's first witness in its lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Tysen Duva

An Assistant Attorney General who argued that criminal investigations regularly stem from matters where initial investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Kamal Ghali

An attorney representing Fulton County who questioned Macias about the claims made in the FBI's warrant application.

Abbe Lowell

An attorney representing the Fulton County officials, who argued the search was based on incorrect information from unreliable witnesses related to claims that are years beyond the statute of limitations.

Michael Weisbuch

A DOJ attorney who accused Fulton County officials of speculating about 'some kind of grand conspiracy'.

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What they’re saying

“The content of the witnesses is incorrect and in many cases contradictory. The information in there is not based in reality.”

— Ryan Macias, Elections expert

“Are you aware that happens all the time?”

— Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General

“No, that's because you don't know.”

— Tysen Duva, Assistant Attorney General

“A week doesn't go by without someone in the administration making an allegation of voter fraud.”

— Abbe Lowell, Attorney representing Fulton County officials

“It just seems like a loosey-goosey theory. They don't like the vibe of what's happening because that's not a constitutional standard.”

— Michael Weisbuch, DOJ attorney

What’s next

U.S. District Judge JP Boulee, a Trump appointee, will decide on Fulton County's request to force the Trump administration to return the sensitive records taken from the election site.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing political disputes over the 2020 election results in Georgia, with the seizure of Fulton County's election records raising concerns about the motivations behind the investigation. The judge's decision on whether to return the records will have significant implications for the continued scrutiny of the 2020 election.