DOJ demands records on ‘unexplained anomalies’ in 2020 election after Fulton County did not comply with subpoena

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon wrote on behalf of Attorney General Pam Bondi, "On behalf of the Attorney General of the United States, we request that you present for inspection in its entirety and most original form, all records in your possession responsive to the recent subpoena issued to your office by the State Election Board."

"The Civil Rights Division sends this request consistent with its ongoing obligations to ensure all citizens’ voting rights have been and are protected in all elections. Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 ('CRA') empowers the Attorney General to request preserved election records,” the letter added.

The letter cites Section 303 of the CRA, which states in part, "any record or paper required by section 20701 of this title to be retained and preserved shall, upon demand in writing by the Attorney General or his representative directed to the person having custody, possession, or control of such record or paper, be made available for inspection, reproduction, and copying at the principal office of such custodian by the Attorney General or his representative."

Dhillon continued, "The purpose of this request is to ascertain Georgia’s compliance with various provisions of the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act including, without limitation, compliance with the provisions relating to election technology and administration standards." "The State Election Board of your State agreed when, in a July 30, 2025 resolution, it called upon the assistance of the US Department of Justice if necessary for state officials to effect compliance with voting transparency," Dhillon continued.

In late July, the Georgia State Elections Board voted 3-2 to pass a resolution seeking assistance from the Department of Justice to reexamine the 2020 election in Fulton County. State election board member Janice Johnston, who introduced the resolution, said at the time, "This case is not closed."

"Transparency appears to have been frustrated at multiple turns in Georgia. The State Election Board has cited 'unexplained anomalies in vote tabulation and storage related to the 2020 election' in a letter to you dated November 7, 2024. The Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division has also been made aware, in correspondence to it on August 1, 2025 from voter transparency advocates, of multiple instances of government obstruction of transparency requests, including high-resolution ballot scans, signature verification documentation, and various metadata requests."

"The Civil Rights Division appreciates your prompt attention to this matter within 15 days of today. Compliance with this request includes notifying all individuals or organizations that have access to these responsive records, even if not directly affiliated with your office."

The state board subpoenaed Fulton County on election night in 2024 seeking documents related to the 2020 election, including ballot images, chain-of-custody forms, lists of voters, documentation of security seals, and ballot scanner paperwork. The board had reprimanded the county in May of 2024 for double-scanning at least 3,000 ballots during a recount of the 2020 election.

During the July 30 hearing in which the board voted to request the DOJ’s assistance, Johnston said, "To date, from the subpoena from November 5, 2024, not a single document has been presented to this board."