• The FBI's probe into Georgia's 2020 election began with a referral from Kurt Olsen, a Trump-appointed election official.
• Over 650 boxes of ballots and materials were seized amidst allegations of election misconduct.
• Critics argue that the claims leading to the investigation have been widely debunked.
• The presence of Tulsi Gabbard during the FBI search has stirred controversy among political figures.
• President Trump and his allies maintain unproven claims about election fraud despite extensive reviews confirming election integrity.

The FBI's investigation into the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia, was initiated by a referral from Kurt Olsen, an attorney aligned with President Trump's administration. Olsen, known for his involvement in Trump’s attempts to overturn the election results, prompted the FBI to assess what the affidavit describes as potential “deficiencies or defects” in the electoral process. This led to a search warrant that authorized the seizure of over 650 boxes of ballots and election materials from the county’s election hub, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

The affidavit suggests that there were claims about missing ballot images and questionable tabulation practices, despite assertions from county officials that these issues had been addressed previously. Fulton County has publicly rejected the validity of these claims as part of a narrative that has been "exhaustively reviewed and, without exception, refuted" through various investigations and audits, reports NPR and Reuters.

Critics, including Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, have condemned the FBI's ongoing investigation as a misuse of taxpayer resources, arguing that it is focused on "repackaged claims" about unproven election fraud. Raffensperger emphasized Georgia’s efforts to ensure election security and expressed frustration over the continued scrutiny, stating, "Instead of wasting time and tax dollars trying to change the past, let's focus our efforts on building a safer, more affordable future for all hardworking Georgians," according to NPR.

The presence of Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, during the FBI's search has sparked controversy among political figures, raising questions regarding her involvement in what Democrats perceive as a partisan investigation. Gabbard defended her role, claiming she merely facilitated communication between the President and FBI agents without issuing directives. However, the absence of any evidence regarding foreign interference raised further concerns, as observed in the affidavit and highlighted by Los Angeles Times and NPR.

The seizure of election materials has led Fulton County officials to seek the return of these items, arguing that the search warrant infringed on constitutional rights and threatened voter privacy. The investigation, while citing significant “deficiencies” in the election process, still remains uncertain regarding whether these issues constituted any criminal conduct, as emphasized in the affidavit, which states that prior multitude of reviews have found no evidence of fraud or large systemic issues affecting the election results. All these concerns have brought to light the complexities surrounding the 2020 election investigation, according to Reuters, NPR, and Los Angeles Times.