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Federal judge prevents DOJ from obtaining names of 2020 Fulton County election workers.
A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Justice cannot obtain the names of 2020 Fulton County election workers, protecting their privacy in the ongoing investigation. The ruling comes after the FBI seized ballots and election documents from Fulton County in January as part of a broader investigation into the 2020 election.
The Justice Department sought the election worker names in April 2026, but the court determined that releasing such information could pose privacy risks. The decision represents a significant boundary in the investigation, preventing authorities from accessing personal identifying information about individuals who participated in the election administration process.
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Court prioritizes election worker privacy over investigation access
The federal judge's decision establishes privacy protections for election workers during government investigations. The ruling acknowledges that releasing worker names could create risks while allowing the DOJ to continue its investigation through other means. This balances law enforcement needs against individual privacy rights in election administration proceedings.
DOJ faces constraints after FBI's seizure and naming restrictions
Following the FBI's January seizure of ballots and documents, the April 2026 request for worker names was denied by the court. The restriction limits the investigation's direct access to election workers while investigation activities continue through material evidence already obtained. The decision reflects judicial limits on investigative scope.