Fulton County election raid: A timeline of how we got here
November 2020: Democrat Joe Biden defeats incumbent Republican President Donald Trump in Georgia and wins the election.
November 2020 to January 2021: Using litigation and political pressure, Trump seeks to overturn Biden’s victory in Georgia and other swing states. He claims the election was stolen, though numerous state and federal investigations found no evidence to support his claim.
Jan. 2, 2021: In a phone call with Brad Raffensperger, Trump urges the Georgia secretary of state to find 11,780 votes to overturn Biden’s win in the state.
FBI raids Fulton election office
Search warrants showed agents were seeking ballots from the 2020 election that Donald Trump has claimed was filled with fraud. Past recounts and court challenges have not backed up those assertions. Read more
2026 Midterms: Georgia activists working with Trump administration to influence elections
Political battle: Former Georgia chief justice appointed to mediate Fulton FBI raid dispute
Court filing: Bipartisan group of former prosecutors denounce FBI seizure
The case: Election skeptics eagerly await criminal charges in Fulton election case
Interview: State Election Board chair dismisses calls for Fulton County takeover
Allegations: Skeptics of 2020 election look for answers
Reaction: FBI affidavit for Fulton’s 2020 records fuels GOP calls for state takeover
Affidavit explained: The AJC breaks down key details in the document used to seize the ballots
The affidavit: Unsealed documents in Fulton County raid show FBI relied on election skeptics
Watch: Police body cam footage shows confusion at FBI raid
Trump: Fulton FBI raid will show 2020 election was stolen
Timeline: How we got here
Opinion: The FBI raid isn’t about the 2020 elections. It’s about 2026 and 2028.
Listen to the AJC’s Breakdown podcast: Fulton County vs. Donald Trump
Special report: Inside the campaign to undermine Georgia’s election
Jan. 6, 2021: At a Washington, D.C., rally, Trump urges supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol to protest Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory. The march turns violent, delaying the certification.
August 2023: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charges Trump and 18 others with racketeering and other crimes stemming from their roles in trying to overturn the 2020 election.
November 2024: Trump is reelected president. He continues to claim the 2020 election was stolen, though no evidence supports his claim.
December 2024: The Georgia Court of Appeals disqualifies Willis from prosecuting Trump and the other defendants in the election interference case, citing her romantic relationship with a special prosecutor in the case. The Georgia Supreme Court later upholds the decision, and the charges in the election interference case are later dismissed.
July 2025: The State Election Board renews its investigation of Fulton County’s 2020 election and requests the Justice Department’s help.
October 2025: In a letter, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon seeks a slew of records previously requested by the State Election Board.
October 2025: The State Election Board subpoenas Fulton County 2020 election ballots.
November 2025: In a second letter, Dhillon asks Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney and Fulton County Superior Court Clerk Ché Alexander for county election records.
December 2025: The Justice Department files a federal lawsuit against Alexander, seeking copies of the ballots. The county argues the request is improper and that it cannot release the ballots. The case is still pending.
Jan. 28, 2026: Armed with a search warrant, FBI agents arrive at the Fulton County elections operation center in south Fulton County. The warrant says they are seeking 2020 ballots and other election records.
Feb. 8, 2026: A federal judge orders that documents related to the FBI raid must be unsealed. Fulton County had filed a motion seeking to make the records public, including the affidavit federal law enforcement officials used to obtain a search warrant for the 2020 ballots.
Feb. 10, 2026: The unsealed FBI affidavit outlines evidence used to justify its seizure of Fulton County’s ballots. The document details election fraud claims that had already been investigated. In each case, state investigators found no evidence of intentional wrongdoing.
This story has been updated to reflect current events.
About the Author
David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
