The FBI has marshaled hundreds of its analysts from across the nation to dissect election records from Georgia's Fulton County, specifically concerning the 2020 presidential election. This significant deployment represents a surge in resources for an inquiry that has been largely dormant publicly for months.
The Justice Department has confirmed its focus on “irregularities that occurred during the 2020 presidential election in the County,” a move that has prompted a considerable mobilization of personnel. These "tactical intel" staffers are typically tasked with day-to-day casework, which can include activities like running license plate checks, open-source investigations, phone analysis, and preparing or reviewing subpoena returns.
The heightened activity follows a January FBI raid on Fulton County election facilities. During this operation, pursuant to a court order, the agency seized "all physical ballots" from 2020, alongside tapes from vote-tabulating machines, ballot images, and voter rolls. Fulton County, which encompasses Atlanta, was a pivotal area in Joe Biden's narrow victory in the state.
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While the FBI has declined official comment on the ongoing investigation, the scale of the analyst assignment suggests an intensive examination of the data. Sources indicate that analysts could be scrutinizing a wide array of information, potentially including social media posts and personal travel records. This mobilization was reportedly ordered by FBI Director Kash Patel, with personnel from all field offices being directed to participate, including approvals for overtime and holiday work.
The expansion of this inquiry has drawn criticism from local and federal officeholders, though the specific nature of their objections remains underspecified in the reports. One former official noted that typical federal cases might involve five to ten analysts, contrasting sharply with the current deployment.
Separately, voting rights correspondent Ari Berman has linked the FBI's actions in Fulton County to a broader context, suggesting it's part of a scheme to discredit election integrity. This perspective frames the investigation as being tied to ongoing narratives about the legitimacy of the 2020 election results. A judge previously rejected Fulton County's attempt to have the seized ballots returned while the investigation continues.
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