A Fulton County, Georgia judge has denied efforts by county officials to quash subpoenas seeking records from the 2020 presidential election, allowing the production of election materials to proceed. Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled that the subpoenas issued by the Georgia State Election Board fall within the board’s authority and must be addressed, rejecting arguments that the requests were untimely or outside legal scope.
The subpoenas seek ballots and other documents from the 2020 general election in Fulton County, which includes much of Atlanta and was a central focus of scrutiny following the presidential contest. Fulton County officials previously argued the subpoenas were “unreasonably broad” and related to an investigation they said had closed, but the judge determined the board still has the authority to seek information.
As part of the ruling, McBurney ordered the county to provide a detailed cost breakdown of complying with the subpoenas, which the county estimates could require nearly $400,000 to produce.
In a related development, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, has filed a federal lawsuit against Fulton County seeking delivery of election records after county officials said the materials were “under seal” and could not be produced without a court order.
The DOJ suit alleges violations of federal election record retention requirements and asks the court to compel production within a set timeframe.
Dhillon and Republican election integrity advocates have said access to these records is critical to ensure compliance with election laws and transparency. Fulton County officials have declined immediate comment on the federal lawsuit, and the matter is now before state and federal courts.
The rulings are the latest chapter in ongoing efforts by state and federal officials to obtain detailed election records from the 2020 presidential contest amid continued debate over election integrity and transparency.
