February 2, 2026
Tulsi Gabbard admits attending FBI ballot seizure at Trump's request
Gabbard attended Georgia election office search at Trump's request; whistleblower complaint pending
Fulton County Election Office temporarily seized mail ballots and related equipment during FBI investigation in early February 2026. The warrants, approved by State Court Judge Scott McAfee, authorized remote malware forensics on digital ballot printing logs and chain-of-custody records.
Tulsi Gabbard name surfaced in FBI affidavit on alleged election tampering. The former congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate was mentioned in connection with alleged attempts to influence the 2024 election, though specific details remained classified.
County officials complied under subpoena but contested scope as overbroad. Fulton County Election Director Richard Barron expressed concerns about the impact on election operations while cooperating with the federal investigation into alleged irregularities.
The investigation intensified national scrutiny after 2020 and 2024 election controversies. Fulton County became a focal point due to its role in Georgia elections and previous investigations into election interference and tampering allegations.
Judge McAfee approved the warrants after FBI presented evidence of potential security breaches. The authorization included remote access to election systems and digital records, raising concerns about election security and integrity.
The investigation came amid broader federal efforts to address election security concerns. The FBI and Department of Justice increased scrutiny of election systems and processes following multiple reports of foreign interference and domestic tampering attempts.
Civil liberties organizations raised concerns about the scope and secrecy of the investigation. Groups including the ACLU questioned whether the investigation was politically motivated and whether it violated voting rights protections.
The ballot seizure created uncertainty about upcoming elections in Fulton County. Election officials worked to maintain operations while cooperating with investigators and addressing public concerns about election integrity and security.
The investigation highlighted tensions between federal oversight and local election administration. The case raised questions about the appropriate balance between federal investigation authority and state and local control of election systems.
People, bills, and sources
Tulsi Gabbard
Former Congresswoman
Scott McAfee
State Court Judge
Richard Barron
Fulton County Election Director
John Eastman
Attorney
FBI Atlanta Field Office
Federal law enforcement
What you can do
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civic action
Support election integrity organizations monitoring federal oversight
Donate to or volunteer with nonpartisan groups that monitor federal investigations into election administration and advocate for proper oversight while protecting voting rights. These organizations help ensure accountability without compromising election integrity.
info@brennancenter.org
My name is [Name] and I am calling to support the Brennan Center work monitoring federal investigations into election administration. I am concerned about the Fulton County ballot seizure and want to help ensure proper oversight while protecting voting rights.
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understanding
Learn about federal oversight of election administration
Study the balance between federal investigation authority and state/local control of elections. Understanding these jurisdictional issues helps you advocate for proper oversight while protecting election integrity and voting rights.
webmaster@lwv.org
I am calling to learn about federal oversight of election administration. With the Fulton County investigation, I want to understand the balance between federal authority and local control of elections and how to protect both integrity and voting rights.
3
civic action
Contact your representatives about election oversight and voting rights
Urge your representatives to support proper oversight of election investigations while protecting voting rights and election integrity. Ask them to ensure investigations are transparent, accountable, and do not interfere with legitimate election administration.
find your representative at congress.gov
My name is [Name] and I am calling about the Fulton County election investigation. I urge the representative to support proper oversight of federal investigations while protecting voting rights and ensuring election integrity is maintained without interference in legitimate administration.