Trump-backed election probe found no evidence of 2020 vote tampering

October 2, 2026 at 05:51 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A U.S. government review of a Puerto Rico voting machine found no evidence of tampering in the 2020 presidential election. The probe, led by Trump ally Kurt Olsen, expanded to Georgia and Arizona and involved the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Justice Department, Homeland Security, and FBI. Election officials fear the investigation laid groundwork for federal seizure of voting equipment during November midterms.

Key Facts

The probe was led by Kurt Olsen, a Washington lawyer who promoted Trump's false election fraud claims.
The investigation expanded to Georgia and Arizona and involved the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Justice Department, Homeland Security, and FBI.
The White House said the inquiry was initiated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, then led by Tulsi Gabbard, to identify vulnerabilities, not revisit the 2020 election.
Election officials fear the work laid groundwork for federal agents to seize voting equipment or ballots during November midterm elections.

The Investigation

In June 2025, U.S. government computer specialists examined a voting machine used in the 2024 election at a warehouse in Puerto Rico and the island's election commission headquarters. The operation was led by Kurt Olsen, a Washington lawyer who had spent years promoting Donald Trump's false claims of election fraud. The examination of a single machine later grew into an investigation involving the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI. According to people familiar with Olsen's work, the investigation aimed to find evidence of fraud in the 2020 election and use it to justify sweeping changes to the U.S. election system.

White House Response

The White House said the investigation was initiated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, then led by Tulsi Gabbard, prompted by concerns raised by Puerto Rico election officials. The White House stated the inquiry's purpose was to identify vulnerabilities, not revisit the 2020 election. The White House denied that career staff were involved in the decision to obtain and examine the machine in Puerto Rico. Olsen, who had Trump's backing, was in regular contact with administration officials before the operation began, and senior White House officials became involved as the investigation expanded.

Election Officials' Concerns

Some White House and intelligence officials believed evidence of foreign interference could provide grounds for expanding federal authority over elections. Election officials fear the work laid the groundwork for federal agents to potentially seize voting equipment or ballots during the midterm elections in November. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard, the CIA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.