William Ray refused to enforce a grand jury subpoena for Fulton County election workers’ personal data, calling its scope “staggering” and the disclosure burden greater than DOJ’s need.
The judge said any potential 2020 election crimes appear time-barred and questioned whether the request even reflected a valid grand jury demand rather than one driven by out-of-district prosecutors.
DOJ had argued Fulton County may have failed to preserve ballot images long enough and that some 2020 ballots seized under a search warrant looked suspicious.
The setback adds to a string of court losses as the department broadens its election push, warning states about criminal liability over noncitizen voting and seeking records from Michigan cities before the August primary.