Trump’s Election Attorney Triggers FBI Raid on Georgia Voting Office

The FBI executed a search warrant at a Georgia elections office, confiscating ballots from the contentious 2020 presidential election. This operation is part of a federal investigation into alleged “deficiencies or defects” surrounding Donald Trump’s defeat in the state, as detailed in recently unsealed court documents.

According to an affidavit signed by a judge last month, the inquiry was initiated following a referral from Kurt Olsen, a former attorney for Trump’s campaign who now serves in the White House. The document, authored by FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans, outlines a criminal investigation into whether any alleged improprieties during the ballot-counting process in Fulton County were intentional violations of federal law.

Olsen, who played a pivotal role in the “Stop the Steal” movement aimed at contesting election results, has faced scrutiny for his actions. His efforts to challenge the election results were largely dismissed by courts nationwide. Notably, he was sanctioned by a federal judge for making “false, misleading and unsupported factual assertions” in support of Kari Lake’s unsuccessful bid to overturn her loss in Arizona’s gubernatorial race.

The affidavit states, “The FBI criminal investigation originated from a referral sent by Kurt Olsen, Presidentially appointed Director of Election Security and Integrity.” This revelation has intensified scrutiny from voting rights advocates and Democratic officials following the raid, which appears to be fueled by claims and conspiracy theories propagated by Trump’s allies.

Allegations cited in the affidavit largely echo complaints previously lodged in court or with the state’s election board. It references several witnesses whose identities are redacted but whose actions align with efforts from Trump’s supporters to contest the state’s election results—claims that have been largely dismissed and disproven.

Notably, the affidavit does not identify any specific individuals as offenders or suggest who might be responsible for the alleged misconduct. Evans’ affidavit notes, “Following the November 3, 2020, presidential election, there were many allegations of electoral impropriety relating to the voting process and ballot counting in Fulton County, Georgia. Some of those allegations have been disproven while some have been substantiated, including through admissions by Fulton County.”

Election law expert David Becker expressed skepticism about the strength of the affidavit, stating, “This affidavit was much weaker than I suspected. No allegations of intent, no allegations of election theft, no allegations of foreign interference.” He questioned whether this investigation had any substantial basis after years of litigation surrounding these issues.

Georgia’s ballots underwent three separate counts following the 2020 election, with each challenge to the results failing to hold up under scrutiny. The FBI is now probing alleged “deficiencies or defects” in those counts. On January 28, agents seized approximately 700 boxes of election records during a nine-hour operation.

The items taken included copies of ballots, voter lists, voting machine data, and mail-in ballots along with their envelopes. In response, Fulton County officials have initiated legal action against the Department of Justice to recover these records.

Fulton County Board of Commissioners chair Robb Pitts criticized the FBI’s actions as showing “callous disregard” for constitutional rights. He argued that such federal interventions could intimidate voters and undermine public confidence in electoral processes.

Pitts stated, “Knowing that the federal government can physically seize and rummage through election records long after the election has been certified will predictably chill voter participation and undermine voters’ confidence in the security and secrecy of their ballots.”

In a related development, Trump-appointed District Judge J.P. Boulee ordered that arguments justifying the magistrate judge's approval of the search warrant be made public. He emphasized that public access to judicial proceedings is crucial.

However, Pitts contended that there is little reason to trust that the affidavit establishes probable cause due to “the lengthy history of widely debunked voter fraud theories” surrounding this case. Fulton County has become a focal point for election denialism following Trump’s defeat, culminating in a sweeping racketeering indictment against him and his associates for allegedly conspiring to overturn the election results.

The FBI’s search comes on the heels of a failed criminal case against Trump, who was accused of orchestrating a “criminal enterprise” involving a “fake elector” scheme aimed at falsely asserting his victory while attempting to seize control of voting machines and intimidate election officials.

Reports indicate that Trump directed U.S. intelligence agencies to share sensitive information regarding the 2020 election with Olsen. The CIA confirmed that it is ensuring Olsen has necessary access to perform his duties. Additionally, he has reportedly consulted with both the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Security Agency.

The involvement of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has raised eyebrows; she was photographed at the scene during the FBI's evidence collection. Allegations suggest that Trump ordered her presence at the raid and that she facilitated communication between agents and the president via speakerphone.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche clarified that Gabbard was not part of the investigation but remained integral to the administration's focus on “election integrity.” However, he could not provide clarity on her presence at the scene.

Becker expressed concern over Gabbard's involvement: “DNI simply has no authority over local election administration or enforcement of election crimes. It is highly troubling to see she was there and on the phone.” He noted that her presence could complicate matters regarding evidence custody and chain of custody integrity.

“I can only imagine what Donald Trump’s defense attorney would have said if President Biden’s DNI had traveled down to Mar-a-Lago during the seizure of Trump’s residence,” Becker concluded.