FULTON COUNTY — U.S. District Judge William Ray ruled on July 7, 2026, that the U.S. Department of Justice cannot obtain the names and personal contact information of individuals who worked during the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia. Ray determined the subpoena seeking this information was unreasonable and the statute of limitations for any potential crime had expired.

The Justice Department obtained a grand jury subpoena in April 2026 for the names and personal contact information of Fulton County employees and volunteer poll workers from the 2020 election. Fulton County asked the judge to quash the subpoena, arguing it was intended to target, harass, and punish the President's perceived political opponents. The county also argued the subpoena was grossly over broad and untethered to any reasonable need.

Ray wrote in his ruling that the subpoena is unreasonable and must be quashed given the low need for the information and the highly burdensome nature of its disclosure. He stated that while grand juries often work with federal prosecutors to investigate alleged crimes, this does not give the DOJ the right to use the Grand Jury to do "whatever the DOJ wants." Ray also noted that even if the records could help identify 2020 election workers who support the theory that the election was unfair, the information could not be used to charge anyone because the statute of limitations for any possible crime arising from the 2020 Election has long expired.

Justice Department lawyer William McComb argued the subpoena was a step in the normal investigative process and sought records to identify individuals with relevant knowledge. McComb contended that the statute of limitations issue was not relevant during the investigative stage. "My point is, as we sit here now, we are not sure what charges can be brought. That's the whole point of the investigation," he said. McComb further stated the request for contact information would be a pathway to determine and speak with and interview certain individuals who worked at the polls who may have "seen, heard or done something in and of themselves."

Kamal Ghali, a lawyer for Fulton County, argued that the subpoena will chill participation by election workers and that the statute of limitations for any alleged misconduct had already lapsed. In January 2026, the FBI served a search warrant at the Fulton County election hub, seizing hundreds of boxes of ballots and other documents from the 2020 election. A federal judge denied Fulton County's request in May to force the federal government to return the seized ballots.