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Pitts calls federal subpoena voter intimidation
Fulton County Commission Chairman Rob Pitts announced a legal challenge to a Department of Justice subpoena seeking the personal information of 2020 election workers.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Fulton County officials are moving to block a Department of Justice subpoena seeking personal information for all 2020 election workers, claiming the move is an attempt to harass and intimidate voters.
Federal subpoena fight
What we know:
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said Tuesday that the county will hire national attorneys to fight a Department of Justice subpoena. The federal government is asking for the names, addresses and telephone numbers of employees, volunteers and bus drivers who worked mobile details during the 2020 election.
The county’s legal team is filing a motion to quash the subpoena, arguing it is improper and that a five-year statute of limitations has already run out. Pitts said the county plans to "fight fire with fire" to protect those who worked when Joe Biden won Georgia and Donald Trump was defeated.
Unanswered federal questions
What we don't know:
The Department of Justice has not explained why it is seeking the personal contact information of thousands of local election workers nearly six years after the 2020 vote. A spokesperson for the department declined to comment on the case Tuesday.
It is also unclear how the federal court will rule on the county's claim regarding the statute of limitations. Officials expressed concern about what other federal actions may be coming next week or in November.
Past election raids
The backstory:
This legal battle follows a January FBI raid at the Fulton County elections hub in Union City. During that raid, federal agents removed ballots from the facility.
Pitts described the ongoing federal interest as a "fishing expedition" designed to discourage people from participating in the current primary and the November election. He said the effort is meant to "chill participation" in the 2028 election.
Chairman Pitts speaks
What they're saying:
"What does the statute of limitations... what does the law mean to this president? And this White House? Absolutely nothing," Pitts said. He compared the county's legal battle to "David slaying Goliath."
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from a broadcast report by FOX 5 reporter Aungelique Proctor, who spoke with Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts and received a statement from the Department of Justice.