FBI Raid Relies on Referral From Trump-Era Lawyer, Affidavit Shows
Affidavit says FBI probe into Fulton County 2020 ballots began from a referral by Kurt Olsen and cites debunked election claims.
Western JournalTrump Was Right: Bombshell FBI Affidavit Released, Lists 5 Jarring Irregularities in 2020 Georgia Vote Counts - Some Already 'Substantiated'
Daily SignalWhat the FBI Confirmed About Georgia 2020 Vote Counting Before the Raid
USA TODAYGA officials call FBI raid 'politically motivated' as warrant unsealed
NPRThe FBI seizure of Georgia 2020 election ballots relies on debunked claims
Overview
The FBI executed a Jan. 28 search warrant at Fulton County's election center and seized more than 650 boxes of 2020 ballots and related materials, according to an affidavit by FBI Special Agent Hugh Raymond Evans.
The affidavit states the criminal investigation originated from a referral by Kurt Olsen, Presidentially appointed Director of Election Security and Integrity, and cites five alleged deficiencies in the 2020 tally, court documents show.
Fulton County officials have sued to recover the seized materials and argued audits and three separate counts, including a hand recount, found no evidence that issues changed the election outcome, court filings show.
Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement that Georgia is the 'safest and most secure place to vote' and criticized the probe as repackaging debunked claims, while some Democratic lawmakers demanded briefings about Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's presence during the raid.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee will hear litigation over whether the seizure complied with federal law as prosecutors and county officials contest the scope of the warrant.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a politically driven, weak investigation rooted in debunked claims. They repeatedly foreground Olsen’s Trump ties, characterize allegations as “baseless” or “debunked,” cite officials dismissing the probe, and highlight prior legal failures—an editorial pattern that emphasizes political motive and undermines prosecutorial credibility.
FAQ
Kurt Olsen is a Trump-era lawyer who gained prominence in 'Stop the Steal' efforts to challenge the 2020 election results; he was appointed as Presidential Director of Election Security and Integrity and made the referral that initiated the FBI probe into Fulton County ballots.[1]
The FBI seized more than 650-700 boxes containing 2020 ballots, tabulator tapes from voting machines, and voter rolls from the Fulton County Elections Hub on January 28.
The affidavit cites five alleged deficiencies or defects in the election and tabulation process, including claims like missing scanned ballot images, though these have been investigated and debunked by state officials.[3]
Fulton County sued to recover the materials, citing audits and recounts that found no outcome-changing issues; Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger called Georgia's elections secure and criticized the probe as repackaging debunked claims.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee unsealed the 22-page affidavit on February 20 and will hear arguments on whether the seizure complied with federal law amid disputes over the warrant's scope.
