The Justice Department has recently taken aim at journalists on social media, branding some as biased, after winning a legal battle over ballots and materials from the 2020 election that were seized this January in Fulton County, Georgia.
In a public post, the department’s communications account remarked, “Another mistake, McFarlane,” targeting members of the Meidas Touch group who thought the government’s arguments wouldn’t sway the judge.
Judge J.P. Bouley issued a 68-page ruling, stating that Fulton County had failed to demonstrate that their rights were violated when the FBI took over 600 boxes of election records. Bouley, appointed by Trump, denied requests from county officials to return the boxes, marking a win for the Trump administration amidst ongoing investigations regarding the 2020 election. This also led the Justice Department to mock media skeptics online.
“Sorry, Anna,” the Justice Department’s social media account added, referencing another discussion about Lawfare editors in a different post.
FBI agents raid election facility in Fulton County, Georgia
Bouley’s ruling highlights the Justice Department’s broader efforts to investigate past elections in pivotal battleground states, such as Arizona and Michigan. Trump has consistently alleged that the 2020 election was marred by widespread fraud and is advocating for tougher election security ahead of the upcoming midterms.
With a court-approved search warrant, FBI agents seized a box that contained 2020 ballots from the Fulton County Elections Hub. The affidavit revealed the office is probing allegations of voting fraud and irregularities in Georgia. This state was pivotal in the narrow loss Trump faced against President Biden, which fueled Trump’s ongoing claims of election fraud following 2020.
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Democrats have condemned the investigation, with Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff labeling it a continuation of a “loser campaign” upon hearing the news.
Fulton County Commission Chairman Rob Pitts, named in the lawsuit over the box seizure, has described the probe as “another outrageous federal overreach aimed at intimidating election participation.” He affirmed his commitment to defending election officials and the truth.
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Pitts and other county officials have argued that the seizure was unlawful, asserting that the government displayed “callous disregard” for their constitutional rights. However, Bouley dismissed these claims, though he noted that the underlying affidavit had flaws and included some “questionable” statements.
While the affidavit may not have been impeccable, Bouley pointed out that it didn’t entirely omit facts that could undermine probable cause. He noted, “This is not a situation where the officer intentionally lied.” He also stressed that the investigation remains in its early stages and that federal authorities possess a valid warrant backed by affidavits that detail allegations of missing ballot images, inconsistent recounts, and archival issues, among other discrepancies.
In response to Bouley’s ruling, Pitts stated that he concurs with the judge’s observation regarding the affidavit’s flaws but disagrees with the denial of Fulton County’s plea for the return of wrongly seized election records. He mentioned that county officials will stand by their election officials and the voters of Fulton County, and they plan to explore all legal avenues available.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Lawfare and Meidas Touch for further comments.
