The FBI has directed field offices across the U.S. to assign 260 analysts to its investigation of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia’s Fulton County. An internal memo, obtained by multiple outlets, describes the effort as a "priority investigation" and requires personnel to review 708 records each by July 17. The directive, issued by FBI Director Kash Patel’s office, involves analysts from all field offices, with larger offices contributing more staff. The FBI declined to comment on the memo, first reported by MS NOW.
In January, FBI agents seized hundreds of boxes containing ballots and other documents from Fulton County, which includes Atlanta and is heavily Democratic. The county’s spokesperson declined to comment, citing the pending investigation. The Justice Department has previously acknowledged probing "irregularities" in the 2020 election there.
President Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that widespread fraud cost him the election. Georgia’s results were recounted three times, including a hand audit, all confirming President Joe Biden’s victory. Trump faces separate criminal charges in Fulton County related to alleged efforts to overturn the election results, though those cases were later dropped.