The Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections (FCBRE) sought to block a grand jury subpoena this week that would divulge the personal data of county employees and volunteer pollsters who worked the 2020 general election in Fulton County, Georgia.
Election materials seized included ballots, images of ballots, and voter rolls.
"It is grossly overbroad and untethered to any reasonable need; it cannot yield any evidence that could result in a criminal prosecution (because, among other things, the statutes of limitations have expired for any purported 2020 election crimes),” the May 4 pleading states.
The April 17 grand jury inquest demands personal information, such as names, email addresses, home addresses, phone numbers, and positions.
It also ordered election officials to report to the courthouse in Atlanta on May 5.
“The attached federal grand jury subpoena directs your business to produce certain business records and/or information for use in a federal investigation,” the subpoena states. “At some point in the future, it may be necessary to offer some or all of the documents as evidence in a federal trial in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.”
Neither the Justice Department nor County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Pitts said in a statement that Fulton County would not buckle under pressure.
“This is yet another act of outrageous federal overreach designed to intimidate and to chill participation in elections,” he added. “I will always stand up for our elections workers and for the truth. Let me be crystal clear. Fulton County will not be intimidated.”
In August 2023, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis criminally indicted President Donald Trump on racketeering and other felony charges stemming from alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Election results show that former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, won Fulton County in 2020 with 72.65 percent of the vote compared to 26.16 percent for Trump.
The case against Trump was dismissed after conduct came to light regarding a personal relationship and finances between Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, as well as allegations that Willis's office violated the Georgia Open Records Act.