Executive Summary
- Commission Chair Robb Pitts claims he was warned of potential arrests two days before the FBI raid.
- Federal agents seized approximately 700 boxes of 2020 election documents under a criminal warrant.
- Fulton County has filed a motion to unseal the affidavit and reclaim the seized election materials.
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present during the search operation.
Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts announced on Wednesday that he received a warning regarding potential arrests of state officials days before federal agents executed a search warrant at the county’s election offices. Speaking at a press conference, Pitts detailed a phone call he claims to have received earlier in the week, alerting him that he and other Georgia officials were at risk of imminent action by federal law enforcement.
According to Pitts, the anonymous caller—described only as someone familiar with Washington D.C.—warned on Monday that Pitts, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and former Deputy Secretary of State Gabriel Sterling could face arrest. While no arrests occurred on the days immediately following the call, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrived at the Fulton County elections offices on Wednesday to execute a criminal warrant.
During the operation, FBI agents seized approximately 700 boxes of documents related to the 2020 election. The warrant was obtained by Thomas Albus, the U.S. Attorney based in St. Louis, who has been designated by the administration as the point person for election integrity cases. Pitts noted that the special agent in charge of the Atlanta field office, Paul Brown, had resigned roughly one week prior to the execution of the warrant.
In response to the seizure, Fulton County officials have filed a motion to have the ballots and election materials returned and to unseal the affidavit used to secure the warrant. “Because the case is still under seal at this time, I cannot share the contents of the motion itself,” Pitts stated, affirming the county’s intent to use all available resources to contest the federal action.
The operation also drew attention due to the presence of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard at the scene. Reports indicate that Gabbard is conducting a review separate from the FBI investigation. Additionally, claims have surfaced regarding a phone call placed by President Trump to Gabbard and agents during the raid. Pitts expressed concern over these developments, stating, “I didn’t meet her, I didn’t talk to her. But she was in fact there.”
Investigative Outlook
The filing of a motion to unseal the affidavit marks a critical procedural step in this investigation, as the sealed document holds the probable cause justification for the federal seizure of state election records. The involvement of national intelligence officials in a domestic warrant execution adds a layer of complexity to the jurisdictional boundaries between federal oversight and local election administration. As the legal process unfolds, the court’s decision on unsealing the records will likely determine the transparency of the government’s case. It is important to note that the FBI has not named any specific targets for prosecution, and all individuals mentioned in connection with this investigation are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
