Judge Quashes DOJ Subpoena Seeking Personal Data on Every 2020 Fulton County Election Worker

On July 7, 2026, U.S. District Judge Billy Ray, a Trump appointee, quashed a Justice Department grand jury subpoena that sought the names, home and email addresses and personal phone numbers of every person who worked or volunteered in the 2020 presidential election in Fulton County, Georgia. Ray called the breadth of the demand "staggering" and found the DOJ was engaged in an "arbitrary fishing expedition." He noted that the statute of limitations for any crime arising from the 2020 election had already expired, so the records "would not lead to information that could be used to charge anyone with anything, at least not any viable charge." The subpoena followed a search warrant under which the FBI seized 656 boxes of Fulton County election materials in January 2026.

The ruling addresses the use of federal grand jury process to gather identifying information on local election workers, and the judge found the demand would chill participation and impair the county's ability to run elections. Fulton County argued the subpoena was an effort to harass perceived political opponents; DOJ denied it.

The subpoena is quashed. A DOJ spokesperson said the department is considering options to challenge the order, and Ray noted his ruling does not bar continued inquiry by other means.