FBI executes court-authorized search at Fulton County election hub seeking 2020 records

FBI agents conducted a court-authorized law enforcement activity at the Fulton County Election Hub & Operations Center on Jan. 28, 2026, removing boxes and seizing records connected to the 2020 presidential election as part of a continuing investigation. The operation unfolded at the county’s large, warehouse-style elections facility south of Atlanta and drew a visible law enforcement presence, media and elected officials.

The FBI confirmed it was “conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity” and said the investigation remains ongoing, declining to provide further detail. The Department of Justice had no immediate comment. Fulton County spokesperson Jessica Corbitt-Dominguez said the warrant “sought a number of records related to 2020 elections,” but declined to elaborate while the operation was underway.

Observers at the scene described agents securing the area, placing tape around the building and loading boxes into vehicles. Some of those boxes were described by law enforcement as containing ballots from 2020, and county officials have said the warrant sought election materials including ballots, tabulator tapes, electronic ballot images and voter rolls. The warrant itself was sealed, and authorities have not publicly released affidavit materials or other filings that would detail the legal basis for the action.

The search comes amid sustained scrutiny of claims about the 2020 election and public statements by former President Donald Trump, including his remark that “people will soon be prosecuted for what they did” and his earlier pressure on Georgia officials to “find 11,780 votes.” Efforts to overturn or question the 2020 results provoked threats and intimidation that officials say have imperiled election workers and county staff. A recent report by the special counsel noted election workers in Fulton County received death threats after false claims circulated.

Local reactions were sharply divided. State Sen. Josh McLaurin called the search “extremely alarming,” expressing concern about potential further erosion of public trust in election administration. Salleigh Grubbs, a member of the Georgia State Election Board, said she supported the action, adding “the people deserve answers” and suggesting the warrant could be aimed at records previously subpoenaed. Fulton County leaders have otherwise limited public comment to confirm the operation was ongoing.

The Fulton County Election Hub opened in 2023 as a centralized facility for the county’s elections operations, with county postings at the time noting more than 261,000 square feet dedicated to staff, operations and equipment. Officials have not disclosed whether computers, physical ballots or other materials were ultimately removed from the facility, nor whether any individuals are subjects of the inquiry or will face charges.

Beyond the immediate legal questions, the search underscores wider civic and public health concerns. Prolonged investigations and public disputes over ballot custody strain local administration, divert resources from routine public services and heighten stress for election workers who already face threats and harassment. In Fulton County, which serves a large and diverse electorate, such tensions risk deepening political and social divides and exacerbating longstanding inequities in political participation.

Federal and local authorities say the matter is ongoing. Additional court filings, agency statements or disclosures will be required to clarify the scope of the investigation, the precise materials seized and the legal rationale guiding the action.