FBI Searches Fulton County Election Office Amid Democratic Concerns
Washington – The FBI executed a search warrant at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center in Georgia on Wednesday, seeking records related to the 2020 elections, raising concerns among Democrats on Capitol Hill. According to Fulton County officials, the search focused on "a number of records related to 2020 elections."
The warrant, shared on social media by Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington, Jr., indicated that the FBI is investigating potential violations of federal laws related to defrauding voters of a fair election process and the retention of federal election records. Georgia's Democratic senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, expressed alarm, warning that the operation exemplified President Trump's use of federal law enforcement to intimidate voters and undermine democracy.
The investigation comes as the Trump administration faces scrutiny on multiple fronts. In Minnesota, a federal judge temporarily barred the administration from detaining refugees who do not yet have green cards. The temporary restraining order was brought about by the International Refugee Assistance Project and other organizations, on behalf of refugees who have been detained or fear detention. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim wrote, "Refugees have a legal right to be in the United States, a right to work, a right to live peacefully and importantly, a right not to be subjected to the terror of being arrested and detained without warrants or cause in their homes or on their way to religious services or to buy groceries."
Meanwhile, Border czar Tom Homan held his first news conference in Minnesota on Thursday, stating, "I'm staying till the problem's gone." Homan's visit followed a meeting between him and Gov. Tim Walz, where they "agreed on the need for an ongoing dialogue," according to Walz's office. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also met with Homan to discuss next steps. The visit also came after a government report sent to Congress and obtained by CBS News revealed that two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents fired their weapons during the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti over the weekend.
Internationally, tensions remain high as the Trump administration prepares military options for strikes in Iran. U.S. allies in the Mideast, including Turkey, Oman, and Qatar, are attempting to broker diplomatic talks to avert potential conflict, regional officials told CBS News. However, direct diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran to discuss the regime's nuclear program and ballistic missile capacity has not gained traction, according to three regional officials who spoke with CBS News on condition of anonymity. Israeli military intelligence chief General Shlomi Binder was in Washington earlier this week for meetings at the Pentagon, CIA, and White House, a source familiar with his plans told CBS News.
Domestically, the East Coast is bracing for another potential winter storm this weekend, following a powerful system that brought snow and ice to a large portion of the country. The National Weather Service warned that another Arctic blast was set to arrive Thursday night, potentially marking the longest stretch of cold the Eastern and Southeastern U.S. have experienced in decades.
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