FBI Investigates Fulton County Election Records, Court Documents Reveal
The FBI is reviewing Fulton County’s handling of the 2020 election, according to newly filed court documents outlining alleged ballot irregularities and record-keeping issues.
Affidavits filed Tuesday by the Department of Justice in federal court reveal the scope of the investigation for the first time. FBI Special Agent Hugh Evans, who prepared the affidavits, detailed a wide-ranging probe into missing ballot images, inconsistent recount totals, and chain-of-custody concerns—issues that have long been raised by former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard talks to reporters in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on July 23, 2025. (Chip SomodevillaGetty Images)
Evans emphasized that the investigation focuses on potential criminal activity related to elections in Fulton County, Georgia’s most populous county, regardless of whether the alleged deficiencies affected the final 2020 outcome. “If these deficiencies were the result of intentional action, it would be a violation of federal law regardless of whether the failure to retain records or the deprivation of a fair tabulation of a vote was outcome determinative,” Evans wrote.
The affidavits also reference a witness, whose name is redacted, described as a chemical engineer, who claimed that ballot images did not match the number of ballots cast. At the time, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger addressed the allegation by ordering a second manual recount. Other claims include duplicate ballot images and absentee ballots with missing creases, which are needed for proper ballot handling.
The Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center is seen Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Union City, Ga, near Atlanta, as FBI agents search at the main election facility. AP Photo-Mike Stewart
Many of these issues were previously reviewed by the Georgia State Election Board and challenged in court, where Trump and his legal team lost multiple lawsuits for lack of standing or insufficient evidence.
The FBI’s investigation reportedly began after a referral from Kurt Olsen, a Trump-appointed director of election security who also assisted post-2020 election challenges. Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present at the Fulton election facility during the FBI’s search, citing election interference as a national security concern and stating that she was asked to attend by Trump.
