Case: Democratic National Committee v. U.S. Department of Justice

1:26-cv-02928 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Aug. 20, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On January 28, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, in a public display of the Trump Administration's continued claims of election fraud in 2020. Out of concern for further potentially illegal seizures, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed records requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) "concerning any planned seizure of ballots, voting machines, and other voting system components." On August 20th, 2026, after…

On January 28, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, in a public display of the Trump Administration's continued claims of election fraud in 2020. Out of concern for further potentially illegal seizures, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed records requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) "concerning any planned seizure of ballots, voting machines, and other voting system components."

On August 20th, 2026, after five months with no responsive documents or even a list of withheld documents, the DNC filed this lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DNC argues that seizure of ballots leading up to the 2026 midterm election "would threaten the security, transparency, and ultimate validity of an election" as well as violate the First Amendment and Title III of the Civil Rights Act. Therefore, access to complete information about federal officials' plans for any such seizures is critical in the DNC's election integrity litigation.

The case was assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.

The case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Talia Richland (9/5/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74675703/parties/democratic-national-committee-v-us-department-of-justice/


Judge(s)

Kollar-Kotelly, Colleen (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Freeman, Daniel J. (District of Columbia)

Klubes, Benjamin B. (District of Columbia)

Miller, Adam B. (District of Columbia)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:26-cv-02928

Complaint for Declaratory Relief

Aug. 20, 2026

Aug. 20, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74675703/democratic-national-committee-v-us-department-of-justice/

Last updated Sept. 17, 2026, 3:08 a.m.

Docket for: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Aug. 20, 2026

COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12622594) filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1: FBI Requeset, # 2 Exhibit 2: FBI Denial, # 3 Exhibit 3: FBI Appeal, # 4 Exhibit 4: CRM Request, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet, # 6 Summons DOJ, # 7 Summons AG, # 8 Summons USAO)(Freeman, Daniel) (Attachment 5 replaced on 8/21/2026) (gsk). (Entered: 08/20/2026)

1 Exhibit 1: FBI Requeset

View on PACER

2 Exhibit 2: FBI Denial

View on PACER

3 Exhibit 3: FBI Appeal

View on PACER

4 Exhibit 4: CRM Request

View on PACER

5 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

6 Summons DOJ

View on PACER

7 Summons AG

View on PACER

8 Summons USAO

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
2 Aug. 20, 2026

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 08/20/2026)

RECAP
3 Aug. 20, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Adam B. Miller on behalf of DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Miller, Adam) (Entered: 08/20/2026)

RECAP
4 Aug. 20, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin B. Klubes on behalf of DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (Klubes, Benjamin) (Main Document 4 replaced on 8/21/2026) (gsk). (Entered: 08/20/2026)

RECAP
5 Aug. 21, 2026

REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons DOJ, # 2 Summons AG, # 3 Summons USAO)(Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

RECAP
6 Aug. 21, 2026

ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CIVIL CASES ASSIGNED TO JUDGE COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY. Signed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on 08/21/2026. (lcckk1) (Entered: 08/21/2026)

RECAP
Aug. 21, 2026

Case Assigned to Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. (gsk)

Aug. 21, 2026

Notice of Error- New Case

Aug. 21, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Aug. 21, 2026

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint,. The following error(s) need correction: Incorrect summonses. Please locate the summons applicable to your case at www.dcd.uscourts.gov/new-case-forms and file using the event Request for Summons to issue. (gsk)

7 Aug. 25, 2026

REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE (Corrected) filed by DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE. (Attachments: # 1 Summons DOJ, # 2 Summons AG, # 3 Summons USAO)(Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 08/25/2026)

RECAP
Aug. 25, 2026

Summons Not Issued

Aug. 25, 2026

SUMMONS Not Issued as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. Summons(es) incomplete. (zjm)

8 Aug. 28, 2026

SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zjm) (Entered: 08/28/2026)

RECAP
9 Sept. 8, 2026

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 8/28/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 9/27/2026. (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

RECAP
10 Sept. 8, 2026

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 9/8/2026. (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

RECAP
11 Sept. 8, 2026

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 9/8/2026 (Freeman, Daniel) (Entered: 09/08/2026)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 20, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-02928

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Document/Information

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Voting:

Election administration

Voting: General & Misc.

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