(The Center Square) – A battle between President Trump and Fulton County escalated Wednesday as the county sought the return of materials related to the 2020 presidential election that were seized by the FBI last week.
In a motion filed in federal court, Fulton County also seeks details of the affidavit that was filed to obtain a search warrant for the raid at the county’s election hub near Atlanta.
“Last week, I committed to the voters of Fulton County, and the world for that matter, that we will use every resource at our disposal to fight for their vote,” Rob Pitts, chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, said at a news conference Wednesday morning. “And that we will fight using all resources against those who seek to take over our elections. Our Constitution itself is at stake in this fight.”
The legal action came a week after FBI agents searched the election center and left with boxes of ballots and other files connected to the six-year-old election that Trump still contends was stolen from him.
Trump has vowed to criminally charge people over the election, which gave President Joe Biden a narrow victory in the state.
Democrats have demanded an explanation for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s presence at the raid and whether the Trump administration is investigating a potential foreign intelligence link. Gabbard told lawmakers on the U.S. House and Senate intelligence committees that Trump asked her to be there, according to media reports.
Pitts said the matter is a national issue that could affect the November midterm elections, referring to Trump telling a conservative podcaster this week that the Republican Party should “nationalize” voting. Under the Constitution, states have the power to run elections.
Democrats have also raised concerns over U.S. Justice Department lawsuits that seek voter registration lists from more than 20 states.
“If states will not fulfill their duty to protect the integrity of the ballot, we will,” Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant attorney general in the department’s civil rights division, said at the time the lawsuits were filed.