Newsletter
What is the Fulton County raid really about?
February 2026
Why federal prosecutions over 2020 are likely not coming
The president has repeatedly threatened criminal charges related to the 2020 election, announcing as recently as late January that “people will soon be prosecuted for what they did.” Just weeks later, the FBI raided the Fulton County, Georgia election office and seized documents related to the 2020 election. Elections expert and CEIR Executive Director David Becker laid out three reasons why prosecutions over 2020 are unlikely to come:
- No crime occurred: “The 2020 election was the most scrutinized election in world history, reviewed by dozens of courts, and dozens of judges, including those appointed by Trump. Every single time, no significant problems or fraud was found.”
- Pending prosecutions are not repeatedly announced: “If the government truly found a conspiracy and federal crimes, they wouldn’t repeatedly announce prosecutions are coming. To do so would risk evidence tampering and criminals fleeing jurisdiction. … As a former DOJ attorney, I can assure you this is not how any prosecutor with a real indictment for a real crime would operate.”
- Five-year statute of limitations: “There’s a five-year statute of limitations that applies to any alleged crime that could have occurred. Under any interpretation, that statute has run [out].”
Becker suggested that the FBI’s seizure of Fulton County’s 2020 election documents is “less about 2020 than it is about 2026 and 2028,” and threats of prosecution are a futile attempt to intimidate the election officials who uphold our democracy. Speaking on CBS, Becker found the justifications in the now-unsealed search affidavit “pretty weak,” further underlining the lack of substance in those threats.
While we do not anticipate prosecutions related to the 2020 election, EOLDN’s robust network of volunteer attorneys stands by ready to support election officials targeted by the federal government. To submit a request for EOLDN legal support, please complete this form on our website.
EOLDN featured in The New York Times
Last month, the Election Official Legal Defense Network was honored to be featured by The New York Times editorial board as one of three nonpartisan initiatives that readers should support ahead of this year’s midterm elections. The editorial board wrote, “We are relieved to see that an array of civic-minded Americans — including Democrats, independents and Republicans — are responding to the threat and already taking steps to protect the integrity of the 2026 elections. They need help in this nonpartisan endeavor.”
The editorial spurred widespread interest in the work of CEIR and EOLDN. Since the article was published, more than 2,000 donors have stepped forward to support us. We are truly moved by their generosity. Knowing so many of you are standing with EOLDN and the election officials across the country fills us with hope and renewed commitment for the work ahead.
Add EOLDN to your election manual
Last month, we shared suggested language for election officials interested in adding information about EOLDN’s legal service to their election manuals. Given the high level of interest last month, we wanted to share that resource again with you.
Many of the election officials that reach out to EOLDN for support tell us they heard about us from a fellow election official. Thank you for all that you do to share our services with your colleagues.
Project Lead Angie Pitha and Beaufort County Election Specialist Jammie Moore connected at the EOLDN booth in SC.
EOLDN On the Road
EOLDN was honored to attend the South Carolina Association of Registration and Election Officials conference in late January. Although the Palmetto State was unseasonably cold, the conference attendees were warm, gracious, and focused on community. We chatted with South Carolina election officials from the state’s 46 counties and had the opportunity to share more about EOLDN’s services at our booth.
We were also happy to again join the Texas Association of County Election Officials (TACEO) at their Winter Conference. EOLDN is grateful to work with TACEO to promote our legal service in the state of Texas.
EOLDN is available to present on threats to and harassment of election workers, the role of attorneys in the defense of democracy, the resources and support we offer for election workers, and more. If you’re interested in EOLDN speaking at your event, please email us at outreach@eoldn.org.
What is EOLDN?
EOLDN matches experienced pro bono attorneys with election officials who have been harassed and intimidated on the job or who fear targeting simply for doing their jobs.
Election officials: Request help
Request assistance on our website or contact us via email at help@eoldn.org or phone at 1-877-313-5210 anytime.
Click here to learn about EOLDN’s Terms and Conditions. If you believe you’re eligible to receive help from EOLDN and are interested in requesting assistance from a pro bono attorney, we encourage you to get in touch.
Attorneys: Join our network
Please forward this message to attorney contacts so EOLDN is prepared for the year ahead and beyond. We need all types of attorneys, as election officials can experience a wide variety of legal issues stemming from their duties, and many simply need general guidance. Learn about joining the network as a pro bono attorney or as a law firm.
Interested in helping us recruit other attorneys or firms into the network? We can help you present EOLDN to other lawyers. For more information, email outreach@eoldn.org.
Articles of interest
Votebeat: Why Trump can’t cancel the 2026 midterms — and why that fear distracts from the real risk
Even if the president attempted to cancel the 2026 midterms, state and local election officials would still administer elections as required by law.
Lawfare: Public Service in America: A Decade of Danger and the Choice to Fix It
Calling the rise in harassment and violence against public servants a “national crisis,” the authors offer five steps to make public service in the United States safer.