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On December 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), under Attorney General Pam Bondi and led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division, filed a federal lawsuit against Fulton County, Georgia, demanding access to 2020 election records.The complaint seeks "all used and void ballots, stubs of all ballots, signature envelopes, and corresponding envelope digital files from the 2020 General Election in Fulton County." The DOJ alleges that Fulton County officials, including Clerk of Superior Court Ché Alexander, violated the Civil Rights Act of 1960 by refusing to comply with prior requests and subpoenas (including an October 2025 demand and a related state election board subpoena), claiming the records are under seal and require a court order.This action is part of a broader DOJ effort citing federal election laws (e.g., National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act) to investigate potential "vote dilution" and compliance issues, occurring alongside similar lawsuits against multiple states (e.g., Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada) for voter registration data — totaling 18 states by mid-December.**The lawsuit follows the November 2025 dismissal of Fulton County's election interference case against Donald Trump and allies** (originally brought by former DA Fani Willis, who was disqualified). Multiple audits and recounts in 2020 confirmed Joe Biden's narrow win in Georgia, with no evidence of widespread fraud altering results.Critics, including voting rights groups, describe the move as an overreach reviving unsubstantiated 2020 claims, while supporters frame it as promoting transparency. The case remains pending in federal court in Atlanta, with the DOJ requesting production within five days of any court order.