FBI fires analysts who questioned evidence in Fulton County 2020 election probe: Report

WASHINGTON, DC: The FBI last week fired two analysts after they questioned whether the bureau's investigation into the 2020 election results in Fulton County, Georgia, was supported by sufficient evidence and raised concerns that it appeared politically motivated, according to multiple sources.

The dismissals have intensified scrutiny of internal dissent inside the bureau as hundreds of analysts race to complete a sweeping review of seized election records.

The investigation itself remains disputed, with the FBI defending its work while sources questioned both the evidence and the process.

FBI analysts questioned Fulton County probe

According to several sources briefed on the matter, the two analysts expressed concerns that the Fulton County investigation was thin on evidence and appeared politically motivated before they were fired.

The dismissals came as the FBI continued to review thousands of records collected after executing a search warrant that allowed agents to seize "all physical ballots" from the 2020 election, along with vote-tabulating machine tapes, ballot images and voter rolls, according to a CBS News report published on Monday, July 13.

The bureau “assigned 260 analysts to examine the ballots and voting data. Those analysts face a July 17 deadline to complete the review,” it said.

"The FBI will always investigate credible allegations of matters related to federal elections," an FBI spokesperson told CBS News.

"Every employee at this FBI is expected to uphold our mission and adhere to our standards - any deviation will not be tolerated," the spokesperson said, as per the outlet.

The firings were first reported by MS NOW.

Review process raises new concerns

Sources familiar with the assignment told CBS News each analyst has been directed to review several hundred entries in a large spreadsheet containing names, addresses and voter identification numbers.

They were instructed “to compare that information with records in the commercial Accurint database and flag discrepancies,” the CBS News report said.

The database compiles “public records,” including “addresses, phone numbers and criminal history information.”

Sources associated with CBS News said the assignment has prompted concern because Accurint data may not always be up to date, and any discrepancies found would not necessarily indicate wrongdoing.

They also questioned what “prosecutors could ultimately do with the findings because the likely five-year statute of limitations would already have expired in late 2025 or early 2026.”

CBS News said it reached out to Accurint's parent company for comment.

Fulton County pushes back on investigation

Some sources, as per the outlet, also expressed concern that the Trump administration could use the review's findings to argue the 2020 election results were incorrect, potentially fueling new doubts about election integrity ahead of the midterm elections or increasing pressure on Republicans to pass the SAVE Act.

Fulton County officials have sought to stop the investigation, which was referred to the FBI by attorney Kurt Olsen, who previously worked to overturn the 2020 election results as part of the Stop the Steal movement, the outlet reported.

Olsen later faced court sanctions while representing Kari Lake in her unsuccessful effort to overturn her 2022 Arizona election loss, it stated.

A judge denied Fulton County's request in May to have the seized ballots returned.

“However, the county secured a legal victory earlier this month when another judge quashed a grand jury subpoena seeking the names and personal contact information of every person who worked the county's 2020 election,” the outlet reported.