The Trump administration has initiated a significant legal action against a Georgia county, seeking access to critical voting records from the contentious 2020 election. This lawsuit emerges as former President Donald Trump continues to assert that the presidential election was stolen from him, despite the lack of evidence supporting such claims.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally requested that the state of Georgia release all voting materials related to the 2020 General Election in Fulton County. This includes all used and void ballots, ballot stubs, signature envelopes, and the corresponding digital files associated with these envelopes. The lawsuit alleges that local officials have violated the Civil Rights Act by sealing these ballots and stating that they cannot be produced without a court order.
In the 2020 election, Trump narrowly lost Georgia to Joe Biden, a loss that significantly impacted his bid for re-election. According to the lawsuit, the DOJ issued a subpoena to Fulton County election officials in October, demanding compliance in providing the necessary ballot materials. This action stems from an investigation into the county's adherence to federal election laws.
On Friday, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon emphasized the importance of safeguarding electoral integrity. “States must protect against vote dilution,” she stated. “At this Department of Justice, we will not permit states to jeopardize the integrity and effectiveness of elections by refusing to abide by our federal elections laws. If states will not fulfill their duty to protect the integrity of the ballot, we will.”
As of now, Fulton County officials have not responded to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit. Following the 2020 election, Trump alleged widespread fraud, leading to numerous legal challenges that were ultimately dismissed by various courts. The Atlanta region, particularly Fulton County, became a hotspot for Trump's disputes over the election results.
In a notable incident, Trump personally contacted Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, urging him to “find 11,780 votes,” which he claimed would overturn Biden's victory in the state. Raffensperger's office, responsible for overseeing and certifying Georgia's elections, confirmed Biden's win through multiple reviews. However, they have declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit from the DOJ.
Fulton County is also where Trump faced criminal charges related to efforts to overturn the election results. Prosecutor Fani Willis accused him of leading a criminal conspiracy to undermine the state's election integrity. Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges as of August 2023. Earlier this month, a judge dismissed the case due to procedural issues, compounded by Trump's potential return to the White House in 2025, which has stalled the prosecution.
The Georgia election interference case was once considered one of the most serious among Trump's four criminal indictments. The stakes are high, as he cannot pardon himself from state-level charges should he regain the presidency. This ongoing saga continues to draw national attention as legal battles unfold over the integrity of the electoral process and the actions taken in the wake of the 2020 election.