Judge Rules DOJ May Keep Seized Fulton County 2020 Ballots
Judge J.P. Boulee ruled the Justice Department need not return hundreds of boxes seized Jan. 28, finding affidavit flaws but no callous disregard in a 68-page opinion.
The Gateway PunditVictory! Federal Court Denies Fulton County Attempt to Claw Back Seized Election Records | The Gateway Pundit | by Brian Lupo
The GuardianJustice department can keep 2020 ballots FBI seized from Fulton county, judge rules
Political WireJudge Denies Request for Return of 2020 Ballots
USA TODAYJudge rules Trump administration can keep seized 2020 election ballots
Overview
On May 6, 2026 U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee denied Fulton County’s request and ruled the Justice Department does not have to return 2020 ballots seized by the FBI.
The FBI seized hundreds of boxes of ballots and other election materials from a warehouse near Atlanta on Jan. 28 targeting Fulton County’s elections hub.
The Justice Department said it is investigating irregularities in the 2020 presidential election in Fulton County and cited two laws, including a 22-month records retention requirement.
Boulee wrote in a 68-page ruling that the affidavit was defective in some respects but concluded Fulton County did not show its rights were callously disregarded or that it would suffer irreparable harm.
Fulton County filed a motion Monday to quash an April grand jury subpoena seeking names and contact information of county employees and volunteers involved in the 2020 election.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story skeptically, using evaluative terms ('false claims,' 'conspiracy theories') and emphasizing legal weak spots and expert rebuttals to the affidavit. Editorial choices highlight Fulton County’s Democratic context and Trump’s role, prioritizing government and expert perspectives while treating pro-investigation assertions as source content rather than endorsement.