A federal judge has ruled that the U.S.Department of Justice cannot obtain the names and personal contact information of all individuals who worked during the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia.

The DOJ had served a grand jury subpoena in April seeking this data, citing an investigation into alleged voter fraud claims by former President Donald Trump.However, Judge William Ray rejected the request, calling it 'staggering' in scope and noting the low need for such information.The judge emphasized that the statute of limitations for any potential charges had expired, making prosecution impossible.Fulton County argued the subpoena aimed to target political opponents and chill election worker participation.While the DOJ claimed the subpoena was part of a normal investigative process, the court ruled it lacked legitimate law enforcement purpose.

The decision highlights concerns about government overreach in accessing private information, with the judge warning that such power could be abused by those in authority.This case follows previous FBI actions involving seized election records from Fulton County, which were denied return by a federal judge in May.