A federal judge is expected to hear arguments Friday over Fulton County’s request that the FBI return ballots and other materials seized during a January raid tied to the 2020 election.
The Jan. 28 raid focused on an election operations site in Fulton County, the state’s largest and a Democratic stronghold that includes much of Atlanta. The county has also been a focal point of election fraud allegations pushed by President Donald Trump and his allies, claims that officials have repeatedly said are unsubstantiated.
The hearing comes after both sides failed to reach an agreement through court-ordered mediation.
County attorneys argue the seizure was improper and violated constitutional protections against unreasonable searches, calling it unjustified. Fulton County Commission Chairman Rob Pitts has also criticized the raid, describing it as politically motivated.
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The U.S. Department of Justice said it is investigating potential irregularities from the 2020 presidential election and has identified possible legal violations. However, county lawyers contend the issues cited are routine human errors that do not rise to the level of criminal wrongdoing or establish probable cause.
