Judicial Watch sues FBI over recalled Chinese election interference report

Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the FBI and the Department of Justice seeking records related to the recall of a September 2020 intelligence report. The report allegedly raised concerns that the Chinese government mass-produced fraudulent U.S. driver's licenses to facilitate a scheme involving fake mail-in ballots to influence the 2020 presidential election.

The lawsuit follows the FBI's failure to respond to a request for communications from former Deputy Assistant Directors Nikki Floris and Tonya Ugoretz regarding the report's dissemination, recall, and subsequent accuracy assessments. Internal emails previously released by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley indicate that the FBI's Albany Field Office issued an Intelligence Information Report in late 2020 concerning these allegations.

Critics, including FBI Director Kash Patel, have suggested that past bureau leadership may have suppressed evidence of Chinese interference. The report was reportedly recalled after concerns arose that its contents might contradict previous testimony provided to the Senate regarding coordinated national voter fraud efforts.