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Inform ★ Engage ★ Empower
March 2026
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Trust but Verify: The FBI Raid
Facts matter. Transparency matters.
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The FBI’s recent raid tied to Fulton County’s 2020 election has triggered strong reactions — from blind trust to blind distrust. But investigations exist for one reason: to determine facts and strengthen the system going forward.
Everyone agrees the 2020 Fulton election was disorganized and full of errors. The question now is simple: WHY — AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Commissioner Bridget Thorne's approach is clear: check the receipts. That kind of civic-minded leadership deserves support — not political attacks.
Below is my recent OpEd outlining why “trust but verify” should guide this moment — and why Election Integrity depends on citizens willing to step forward. Support Bridget. And if you’re ready to help, consider becoming a poll watcher.
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Editor-in-Chief
Paul Miller is a Fulton County resident who has served as a poll worker, poll watcher, deputy registrar, and observer in Fulton County elections. A retired technology and business leader, he brings a practical perspective shaped by firsthand experience.
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Published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC), 2/22/26
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🗳️ Fulton County GOP Election Integrity Leadership Team
Team Lead: Kevin Muldowney | BRE Liaison: Kevin Muldowney |
Poll Watchers: Steve Smith | Poll Workers: Lucia Frazier & Melissa Fioriollo |
Newsletter: Paul Miller | Design: Adrianne Miller
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North Star - Trust but Verify
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Elections are civic infrastructure — just like the air traffic control system.
They must be accessible, but also safe, reliable, and efficient. Americans trust air travel not because accidents never happen, but because when something goes wrong, investigators examine every detail with radical transparency. There are no secrets — only lessons that help prevent the next failure.
Elections deserve that same standard. Transparency isn’t about relitigating the past; it’s about strengthening the system so confidence grows with every cycle.
Trust the system enough to investigate it. Verify it enough to improve it.
So what happens when investigators step in? The facts — and the possible paths forward — begin below.
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▣ EVIDENCE
What Was Flagged
- Missing ballot images
- Duplicate ballot handling questions
- Gaps in the chain-of-custody
- Changing totals during recount
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▣ LEGAL FOCUS
FBI Affidavit
Investigators are examining two narrow federal questions:
- Failure to retain required election records
- Knowing manipulation of tabulation processes.
The focus is on intent, not the existence of errors.
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▣ CURRENT REVIEW
What Investigators Are Doing
- Reviewing records gathered from multiple sources
- Comparing findings to prior reports and audits
- Determining whether failures were criminal or administrative
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What happens next won’t be a single moment — it will unfold in parallel. Federal investigators will keep reviewing evidence while state and local leaders respond in different ways. Expect competing headlines, strong reactions, and plenty of noise before any clear outcome emerges.
Possible paths forward:
- Federal: If intentional violations are proven, criminal charges could follow.
- State: If investigators determine a severe breakdown, Georgia law allows for a state takeover of Fulton's elections operations.
- Local: Transparency reforms would be the healthiest outcome for restoring trust - but Fulton leadership has shown little willingness to open its processes, making this unlikely without sustained public pressure.
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Voices in the Debate
Different reactions to the investigation — and what they reveal.
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Bridget Thorne (R)
Fulton County Commissioner
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TRUST BUT VERIFY
“If there is nothing to hide, it is time to show the world the receipts,” she said. “Let’s finally put the 2020 election to rest.”
AJC,1/29/26, Could FBI raid in Fulton set the stage for takeover of county's elections?
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BLIND DISTRUST
“If Republicans can take over bright blue Fulton County, they don’t need to run good candidates. They don’t need to win the battle of ideas... They’d be in position to win every statewide race in Georgia in 2026.”
AJC,1/29/26, Could FBI raid in Fulton set the stage for takeover of county's elections?
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Saira Draper (D)
GA State Representative
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Robb Pitts (D)
Fulton County
Board of Commisioners Chairman
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Fulton is OUR House
"The FBI raid is a hit job...We will not give one inch to those who seek to take control of our elections."
AJC,1/29/26, Could FBI raid in Fulton set the stage for takeover of county's elections?
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RACE-FRAMING POLITICS
Of Donald Trump, Ossoff said, "He sent them to Fulton County to seize your ballots on a pack of lies,” he said at Big Bethel A.M.E. Church. “… he tries to delegitimize your exercise of power. With elections approaching, he tries to suppress it.”
AJC,2/16/26, Ossoff accuses Trump of ordering Fulton County raid to suppress Black voters
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Jon Ossoff (D)
US Senator
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Former Governor Roy Barnes (D)
Former US Senator Saxby Chambliss (R)
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BLIND TRUST
“You can find a clerical error in probably every one of the 159 counties in some election. Humans are going to be humans, and mistakes will be made,” said Chambliss.
AJC,2/17/26, A bipartisan warning on Fulton: Don't relitigate 2020 election?
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Where YOU Come In
Transparency doesn’t happen on its own — it requires leadership and citizens willing to step forward.
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Support Bridget Thorne
Bridget Thorne has become Fulton County’s strongest voice for election transparency — and that leadership has made her a target.
As she runs for re-election, outside political money is already pouring into Fulton to defeat her. The goal is simple: shut down oversight and return to blind trust.
Her approach is common-sense: trust the system, but verify it. If you believe elections should be open, accountable civic infrastructure, now is the time to stand with leaders willing to ask hard questions.
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Become a Poll Watcher
Poll watching is one of the most constructive ways citizens can support election integrity. It’s not confrontation — it’s presence, professionalism, and transparency at the process level.
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Tell us what matters most to you.
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If you have ideas, questions, or topics you think deserve attention, we want to hear from you. Election integrity is a team effort — and your perspective helps us stay focused on what matters most.
Based on the feedback we received last month, readers showed the strongest interest in understanding how ballots are counted, reinforcing the value of continuing to focus on practical, process-level election details.
You can also use this space to suggest improvements to our Election Integrity Resource Guide, the go-to starting point for anyone getting involved.
Share your thoughts anytime →
Looking for earlier editions? Browse all past FCRP Election Integrity Newsletters here.
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