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Union City Today
By the People, for the People
Fulton County Seeks Return of 2020 Ballots Seized by FBI
Federal judge hears arguments in dispute over seized election materials as DOJ investigation continues
Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:38am
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A federal judge heard arguments in a dispute between Georgia's Fulton County and the Trump administration over whether the FBI must return thousands of 2020 election ballots seized during a January search warrant execution. The county argued the seizure was 'unusual' and accused the DOJ of acting out of frustration with parallel civil litigation, while federal attorneys said the materials are still needed for an ongoing criminal investigation.
Why it matters
The broader legal fight comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Trump administration's efforts to revisit aspects of the 2020 election, with the FBI also issuing subpoenas for election-related records in other battleground states. Democrats and some election officials have raised concerns that the federal government is using law enforcement powers to relitigate the 2020 election and potentially influence future contests.
The details
The dispute centers on the FBI's seizure of more than 650 boxes of election-related materials from a warehouse near Atlanta, part of a broader DOJ investigation into alleged irregularities in Fulton County's handling of the 2020 vote. Federal officials have pointed to concerns about ballot image retention, potential double-scanning of ballots, and potential improper counting of absentee ballots. Fulton County has pushed back, arguing the issues reflect routine administrative errors rather than fraud.
- The FBI executed a search warrant and seized the materials on January 28, 2026.
- The federal judge heard arguments in the case on March 28, 2026.
The players
Fulton County
The county in Georgia that includes most of Atlanta and is heavily Democratic.
Trump administration
The federal government under the previous Trump presidency, which is now involved in a dispute with Fulton County over the seized election materials.
J.P. Boulee
The U.S. District Judge hearing the case, who was appointed by President Donald Trump.
Abbe Lowell
The Washington-based attorney representing Fulton County.
Michael Weisbuch
The DOJ attorney arguing the case for the federal government.
What they’re saying
“'There's abundant law that the left hand of the department needs to know what the right hand is doing.'”
— Abbe Lowell, Attorney representing Fulton County
“The separate litigation was 'not relevant in any respect' and federal investigators still require the original materials to pursue their inquiry.”
— Michael Weisbuch, DOJ attorney
What’s next
The judge has not yet ruled on whether the federal government must return the physical ballots, leaving the central dispute unresolved as the DOJ's investigation continues.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing tensions between state and local election officials and the federal government's efforts to revisit the 2020 election, raising concerns about the potential for political interference in future elections.
