The Trump administration has launched a legal challenge against a Georgia county. Officials are seeking the release of voting materials from the 2020 US presidential election.
The lawsuit was filed by the US Department of Justice and targets Fulton County. It seeks access to several types of election records.
These records include used and voided ballots, ballot stubs, voter signature envelopes, and related digital files from the November 2020 election.
Federal officials say the county failed to meet election law requirements. Local authorities argue the ballots were sealed and require a court order for release.
Justice Department Cites Federal Election Law
According to court filings, the Justice Department issued a subpoena to Fulton County election officials in October. The request stated the records were needed to assess compliance with federal election regulations.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the federal government has a responsibility to ensure election protections are enforced nationwide.
“States must guard against vote dilution,” Dhillon said in a statement. “When jurisdictions refuse to meet their obligations under federal election law, the Department of Justice will act to protect the integrity of the ballot.”
Fulton County officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Georgia Remains Central to 2020 Election Dispute
Georgia was one of the key battleground states in the 2020 election. Joe Biden narrowly defeated Donald Trump in the state, contributing to Trump’s overall electoral loss.
Following the election, Trump repeatedly claimed the vote was rigged, allegations that were rejected by state officials and multiple courts. Georgia, and particularly Fulton County in the Atlanta area, became a focal point of his challenges.
In January 2021, Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, urging him to “find” enough votes to overturn the result. Raffensperger later confirmed Biden’s victory after several recounts and audits.
Raffensperger’s office declined to comment on the newly filed lawsuit.
Criminal Case Later Dismissed
Fulton County later became the site of a high-profile criminal case related to efforts to overturn Georgia’s election outcome. Prosecutors charged Trump with racketeering and election interference, accusations he denied.
The case faced repeated procedural setbacks and was dismissed earlier this month. Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 effectively paused further legal action.
The Georgia case was once viewed as the most serious of the criminal proceedings Trump faced, as state-level charges cannot be pardoned by a sitting president.
