UNION CITY, GA — On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center. The operation, which began around noon, is part of a criminal investigation into the retention and preservation of election records and potential efforts to defraud voters in the 2020 general election.
Scope of the Criminal Warrant
The search warrant, signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas, authorized federal agents to seize a comprehensive array of 2020 election materials. Unlike previous civil subpoenas, this criminal warrant commanded the immediate seizure of physical evidence.
According to the warrant, the FBI sought to seize:
- Physical Ballots: All used, void, absentee, early voting, provisional, emergency, duplicated, and damaged ballots from the 2020 General Election.
- Voting Machine Data: Tabulator tapes from every machine used in the county, including zero, opening, and closing tapes.
- Electronic Records: All digital ballot images created during the original count and subsequent recounts.
- Voter Rolls: Complete rolls from 2020, including records of who received and returned absentee ballots.
At the scene, an FBI evidence recovery team was observed loading an estimated 700 boxes of materials into trucks.
Legal and Investigative Context
The warrant cites potential criminal violations of Title 52 of the U.S. Code. The investigation is being led by Thomas Albus, the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri. Notably, senior officials including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey were reported to be present at the facility during the operation.
This move follows a Department of Justice lawsuit filed in December against Fulton County and its Clerk of Courts, Ché Alexander, for access to these same records. While county officials previously stated the records were under seal and could not be released without a court order, this criminal warrant provided the necessary federal authority for immediate seizure.
Reactions to the Search
The operation has sparked a sharp divide in responses from local and state officials:
- Fulton County Officials: Commissioner Marvin Arrington described the raid as a “full-frontal attack on democracy,” while Commissioner Mo Ivory expressed concerns that the seizure would disrupt future elections.
- Federal Representatives: U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) condemned the action, characterizing it as the administration wielding law enforcement as an instrument of “personal power and revenge”.
- Proponent Views: Conversely, Republican Commissioner Bridget Thorne stated she supports transparency and hopes the investigation will finally put lingering questions about the 2020 election to rest.
The FBI’s Atlanta field office confirmed that the investigation is ongoing but declined to provide further details regarding the specific targets or findings of the search.
