The FBI fired two analysts last week after they raised concerns about the investigation into the 2020 election results in Fulton County, Georgia. The analysts reportedly questioned the probe's evidence and alleged political motivations, according to sources briefed on the matter.
The firings follow the FBI's review of thousands of records seized earlier this year, including physical ballots, vote-tabulating machine tapes, ballot images, and voter rolls. The bureau assigned 260 analysts to examine the data, with a deadline of July 17 to complete their work.
FBI Response
The FBI stated it investigates credible allegations related to federal elections and expects employees to uphold its standards. "Every employee at this FBI is expected to uphold our mission and adhere to our standards - any deviation will not be tolerated," an FBI spokesperson told CBS News.
Investigation Details
Sources familiar with the matter said analysts were tasked with reviewing a large spreadsheet containing voter information, including names, addresses, and voter IDs. They were instructed to cross-check this data against the commercial database Accurint, which aggregates public records such as criminal history and telephone numbers. Analysts were to highlight any discrepancies found.
Concerns Raised
The assignment has sparked concerns about the accuracy of the Accurint database and whether discrepancies necessarily indicate wrongdoing. Additionally, questions have been raised about the Justice Department's ability to bring charges, as the five-year statute of limitations for potential violations would expire in late 2025 or earlier.