ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The long-running investigation tied to efforts to challenge the 2020 U.S. presidential election results in Georgia has entered a renewed and controversial phase, following the unsealing of search-warrant documents connected to federal actions in Fulton County.

Court records released this week reveal that federal investigators obtained warrants to seize extensive election materials from Fulton County’s election operations hub, including physical ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls from the 2020 contest. The search, executed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on January 28, resulted in the seizure of hundreds of boxes of records for forensic and procedural review.

According to the affidavits, investigators sought evidence tied to alleged irregularities in ballot scanning, record retention, and vote tabulation procedures. Claims cited in the filings included missing ballot images, duplicated scans, and discrepancies in machine tabulation data. However, multiple prior audits, recounts, and court reviews had found no evidence of widespread fraud capable of altering the election outcome in Georgia.

The probe reportedly originated from referrals by individuals aligned with election-fraud claims, including legal advocates connected to post-election challenges. Critics argue the reliance on previously debunked allegations raises concerns about the legal foundation of the warrants and the broader politicization of election oversight.

Local officials in Fulton County have pushed back forcefully, calling the seizure unprecedented and seeking the return of election materials through federal court action. They warn that removing ballots and records could disrupt election administration and undermine public confidence.

The federal government maintains that the warrants were lawfully approved by a magistrate judge and that investigators are examining whether any federal statutes related to election record preservation were violated.

The developments unfold against the backdrop of earlier criminal proceedings in Georgia tied to attempts to overturn the 2020 results—cases that have faced procedural delays and prosecutorial changes.

As legal battles over evidence, jurisdiction, and investigative scope continue, the Fulton County inquiry remains a focal point in the national debate over election integrity, federal authority, and the enduring political fallout from the 2020 vote.