The FBI dismissed two analysts last week after they raised concerns regarding the investigation into the 2020 election results in Fulton County, Georgia. Sources familiar with the situation indicated that the analysts believed the investigation lacked sufficient evidence and appeared politically motivated. This decision follows the FBI's review of thousands of records obtained through a search warrant, which included physical ballots, vote-tabulating machine tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls. The FBI has mobilized 260 analysts to assist in reviewing the ballots and voting data.
An FBI spokesperson stated, "The FBI will always investigate credible allegations of matters related to federal elections," emphasizing that all employees are expected to adhere to the agency's standards. The analysts were required to complete their reviews by July 17, examining several hundred entries in a spreadsheet containing names, addresses, and voter IDs. They were instructed to cross-check this information against the commercial database Accurint, which aggregates public records.
Concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of the data in Accurint and the implications of any discrepancies identified. Additionally, questions remain about the potential for legal action, given the statute of limitations that would likely expire in late 2025 or early 2026. There are fears that results from the review could be used to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election results, particularly in the context of upcoming midterm elections. Fulton County officials have attempted to halt the investigation, which was initiated by Kurt Olsen, a lawyer associated with efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Olsen is currently with the Justice Department, investigating claims of a conspiracy involving past officials to undermine President Trump's presidency. A judge recently denied Fulton County's request to return the seized ballots but quashed a subpoena for personal information of election workers in the county.