Judge blocks DOJ from getting 2020 Fulton election worker data
Judge blocks DOJ's Fulton County worker subpoena
A federal judge has quashed a Department of Justice subpoena seeking the personal information of thousands of 2020 Fulton County election workers, according to court documents.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - A federal judge has blocked a sweeping U.S. Department of Justice attempt to seize the names and personal contact information of thousands of 2020 Fulton County election workers.
What we know:
U.S. District Judge William Ray quashed the grand jury subpoena on Tuesday, ruling that the federal government's massive data request was unreasonable and highly burdensome.
The Justice Department originally demanded the personal contact details of all county employees and volunteer poll workers from April.
Fulton County officials immediately fought the request in court.
Kamal Ghali, an attorney representing the county, argued that forcing the disclosure would terrify local workers and chill future participation in elections. The county also stressed that the statute of limitations for any alleged election misconduct has already completely lapsed.
Why you should care:
The legal battle impacts thousands of everyday citizens who manage the democratic process in Georgia's largest Democratic stronghold. The federal scrutiny follows long-running, unproven claims of widespread voter fraud in the county during the 2020 presidential election cycle.
"There was a three-year statute of limitations," said John Acevado, a professor at Emory University's School of Law. "And of course, this stems from 2020 election, so six years ago."
FBI agents load roughly 700 boxes of 2020 election ballots and records into trucks during a criminal investigation into alleged voting irregularities at the Fulton County Elections Hub in Union City, Georgia, on January 28, 2026. (FOX 5)
What we don't know:
The judge did not clarify how this ruling affects the broader federal probe into the county.
Federal agents previously seized hundreds of boxes of ballots and election documents from the Fulton County election hub during a January search warrant operation. A separate ruling in May denied the county's request to have those physical ballots returned.
What they're saying:
Justice Department lawyers stated the information was a pathway to interview people who may have witnessed misconduct.
The agency's full statement is below:
"The district court’s ruling that the probable expiration of statutes of limitations prevents the grand jury from investigating the 2020 election in Georgia is at odds with numerous holdings of the Supreme Court. Because the court’s order jeopardizes both the historic purview of the grand jury and a long-delayed assessment of 2020 election processes, the Department is considering all options to challenge."
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts said Fulton County will continue to work to assure Georgia voters that the election process can be trusted.
His full statement is below:
"For months, Fulton County has challenged the baseless allegations of fraud in Georgia’s handling of the 2020 election. We pointed out the flaws in the January seizure of thousands of 2020 election documents and the April subpoena for personal information about the thousands of people who worked on the 2020 election itself. The Court called the circumstances surrounding the search warrant "unprecedented," "troubling," and "problematic."
"Today, the Court granted the County’s motion to quash the subpoena for elections workers’ private information and agreed it was without proper basis, misused the grand jury process, and that its breadth was "staggering."
"Fulton County will continue to do all that is needed to assure Georgia citizens that our election process is fair and proper and to show that the attacks against it are baseless."
The Fulton County attorney issued the following statement:
"Fulton County’s legal team challenged the Justice Department’s attempt to use a grand jury subpoena to obtain the personal information of thousands of election workers. Today, a federal judge agreed that "in pursuing the Subpoena, the DOJ is engaged in an ‘arbitrary fishing expedition,’ such that the Subpoena is unreasonable and must be quashed." Accordingly, the Court concluded that "Fulton County is under no obligation to comply."
"I would like to thank our lead attorneys Kamal Ghali, Abbe Lowell, and Norman Eisen, along with their respective teams. We are proud of our efforts to push back against these improper demands that only serve to undermine confidence in our elections."
Dig deeper:
On FOX Local's Red Clay Rundown, which airs at 8 p.m., both sides of the political spectrum weighed in.
"I am unsure sure why this president chooses to reopen this discussion, and I'm unsure why there is a reason to go after these civilians, civil servants, these literal volunteers," said Anre Washington, a Democratic strategist.
Brian Robinson, a Republican strategist, thinks the party needs to focus its attention on future elections.
"President Trump, in his heart of hearts, does not think that the 2020 election in Georgia was properly administered," Robinson said. "He does think it was riddled with fraud. But, you know, six years later, I think we have to make some decisions."
President Trump has not yet responded to the ruling.
What's next:
Federal attorney William McComb noted that investigators are still reviewing what specific charges can be brought, meaning federal prosecutors must now find alternative ways to conduct interviews without the master contact list.
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The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. Additional reporting from FOX 5 Atlanta reporter Rob DiRienzo.