Key facts
- A federal judge rejected a Justice Department subpoena for 2020 election worker contact information in Fulton County, Georgia.
- The judge ruled the subpoena was overly broad and untethered to a legitimate purpose.
- Fulton County argued the subpoena was an attempt to target political opponents.
- The Justice Department sought the information as part of its investigation into the 2020 election.
A federal judge has rejected an attempt by the U.S. Department of Justice to obtain the names and personal contact information of individuals who worked during the 2020 election in Georgia’s Fulton County. U.S. District Judge William Ray ruled that the subpoena was "unreasonable and must be quashed," citing its overly broad nature and low need for the information.
The Justice Department had issued a grand jury subpoena seeking the data, which it described as a "next step in the normal investigative process" to identify persons with relevant knowledge. Fulton County, however, argued that the subpoena was intended to "target, harass and punish the President’s perceived political opponents" and was "grossly over broad and untethered to any reasonable need."
Kamal Ghali, a lawyer for the county, contended that the subpoena would "chill participation by election workers" and that the statute of limitations for any alleged misconduct had already passed. Justice Department lawyer William McComb countered that the statute of limitations was not relevant at the investigative stage, as the purpose of the investigation is to determine what charges, if any, can be brought.
Judge Ray had expressed concern about the subpoena being an "overly broad fishing expedition," emphasizing the need to determine where such requests cross the line of reasonableness.