Trump Allies Held Meetings on 2020 Election Probe, Documents Show

Missouri prosecutor oversaw meetings with lawyers tasked by Trump to reinvestigate his 2020 loss in Georgia

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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New details have emerged about the extensive preparations behind the controversial FBI raid on Fulton County, Georgia's election center. A Missouri prosecutor appointed by Trump, Thomas Albus, has been holding meetings since last fall with lawyers tasked by the former president to reinvestigate the 2020 election results, including Ed Martin and White House lawyer Kurt Olsen, who previously worked to overturn the election. The meetings reveal the level of coordination between Trump allies to challenge the 2020 outcome, even after Biden's inauguration.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by Trump and his allies to undermine confidence in the 2020 election results, even years later. The involvement of a federal prosecutor from outside Georgia raises concerns about the politicization of the Justice Department and the potential abuse of power to target Democratic strongholds. It also reveals the extensive network of lawyers and officials working on Trump's behalf to reinvestigate the election.

The details

According to a source familiar with the meetings, Thomas Albus, the U.S. Attorney for Missouri's Eastern District, has been meeting since last fall with lawyers tasked by Trump to reinvestigate his 2020 loss, including Ed Martin, a DOJ lawyer who led a group investigating the 'weaponization' of the department against Trump, and White House lawyer Kurt Olsen, who was directed to join at least one of the meetings. The meetings were described as being about 'election integrity,' a term the Trump administration has used to describe investigations into its false claims of a rigged election. Albus and Olsen later interviewed witnesses, including conservative researcher Kevin Moncla, before Albus was listed as the government attorney on the search warrant that authorized the seizure of election materials in Fulton County, Georgia.

  • The meetings between Albus, Martin, Olsen and others have been taking place since last fall.
  • Around the turn of the year, Albus and Olsen interviewed witnesses for their case, including Kevin Moncla.
  • In late January, Albus was listed as the government attorney on the search warrant that authorized the seizure of election materials in Fulton County, Georgia.

The players

Thomas Albus

The U.S. Attorney for Missouri's Eastern District, appointed by Trump, who has been overseeing meetings with lawyers tasked by the former president to reinvestigate the 2020 election results.

Ed Martin

A DOJ lawyer who led a group investigating the 'weaponization' of the department against Trump, and who participated in the meetings with Albus.

Kurt Olsen

A White House lawyer who was tasked with reinvestigating the 2020 election and was directed to join at least one of the meetings with Albus.

Kevin Moncla

A conservative researcher who spoke to Albus and Olsen around the turn of the year and was identified as Witness 7 in the affidavit that led to the Fulton County raid.

Jesus Osete

The principal deputy assistant attorney general for civil rights, who also participated in the meetings with Albus.

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What they’re saying

“Look, we've got to get' the ballots.”

— Ed Martin (Steve Bannon podcast)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing efforts by Trump and his allies to undermine confidence in the 2020 election results, even years later, and the potential abuse of power by the Justice Department to target Democratic strongholds in pursuit of the former president's false claims of a rigged election.