Federal judge blocks DOJ bid for Fulton County 2020 election worker names
Judge William Ray quashed a Justice Department subpoena seeking identifying information for Fulton County election workers and volunteers.
By Sarah Jenkins · Chief Macro Economics Correspondent
· 2 min read
A federal judge in Georgia on Tuesday blocked a Department of Justice subpoena seeking the names of Fulton County election workers involved in the 2020 election. The order prevents the department from obtaining personal identifying information tied to thousands of employees and volunteers who took part in election-related work in the county.
Judge William Ray quashed the subpoena, writing that it sought disclosure of information for “thousands of employees and volunteers who participated in activities related to the 2020 Election.” In the order, Ray said that releasing such a broad set of identifying details could deter people from serving in future elections and would affect Fulton County.
A subpoena is a legal demand for information or testimony. When a court quashes one, the recipient is no longer required to comply with that demand as issued. Ray’s ruling therefore blocks the Justice Department request in its current form.
Fulton County, whose largest city is Atlanta, has been a recurring focus of President Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Trump has falsely said for years that he won the state and has directed allegations of ballot fraud toward the vote count conducted in Fulton County.
The order did not disclose any further details about the Justice Department’s purpose in seeking the worker names. The decision leaves in place protections for the identifying information of people who participated in the county’s 2020 election operations.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.
