ELX-007 · Elections · 2020 election reinvestigation
FBI reopens the 2020 election in Georgia and Arizona
Stage 4 of 5: Legal action · Lawsuits, subpoenas, charges · Last development 16 Oct 2026
On 28 January 2026 the FBI searched Fulton County's election hub near Atlanta and seized more than 650 boxes of 2020 ballots and other materials. The affidavit says the investigation began with a referral from Kurt Olsen, the White House's Director of Election Security and Integrity, who had worked on Trump's 2020 challenges. An NPR review found the affidavit relied on claims state investigators had already examined and omitted their findings. Fulton's 2020 ballots were counted three times. In March, Arizona's Senate president said he gave the FBI records from the Senate's 2020 audit of Maricopa County under a grand jury subpoena.
No charges have been reported. The affidavit says the probe examines whether any irregularities were intentional crimes.
- People
- Kurt Olsen, FBI, Fulton County, Warren Petersen
- Reviewed by
- Federal court (search warrant), Federal grand jury, Senate Democrats
Timeline
Sens. Warner, Durbin, Padilla and Peters write to Attorney General Blanche and FBI Director Patel seeking information on the January FBI search of Fulton County's election office and FBI and DOJ election probes in Michigan and Arizona, with answers due 29 October. [3]
Sens. Padilla, Durbin and Whitehouse ask Attorney General Blanche to reaffirm DOJ's election non-interference policy and to commit that DOJ will not seize ballots or voting equipment before the midterms are certified; answers due 29 October. [5]
Judge J.P. Boulee rules the Justice Department may keep the 2020 Fulton County ballots and records seized by the FBI, rejecting the county's request for their return. [4]
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen says he complied with a federal grand jury subpoena for 2020 audit records. [2]
Affidavit unsealed; NPR finds it omits key findings from earlier state inquiries. [1]
FBI executes a search warrant at Fulton County's election hub and takes more than 650 boxes. [1]
Responses
Sources
Cite this case
Public Trust Tracker. "FBI reopens the 2020 election in Georgia and Arizona" (ELX-007). Last updated 16 Oct 2026. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-007-fbi-reopens-the-2020-election-in-georgia-and-arizona/
Suggest a fact check