The Fulton County Board of Registration & Elections has hired two defense attorneys from a highly prestigious legal firm, and filed paperwork to halt a motion to unseal and inspect absentee ballots that was granted by a judge last week.

Election integrity activists have interpreted the move as indicative of officials’ fears that the results of the ballot audit may not align with the official election narrative presented by Georgia elected officials and the Board of Registrations & Elections.

Heather Mullins of Real America’s Voice first broke the news on Thursday, stating “The Fulton County Board of Registration & Elections has hired two of Georgia’s top criminal defense attorneys & filed paperwork to halt the audit proceedings previously ordered by the judge! Story unfolding on RAV!”

The Board of Registrations & Elections’ lawyers urged the court to “stay these proceedings,” and “the court should provide an opportunity to the BRE to file responsive and dispositive motions.” The documents were submitted by Donald Samuel and Amanda Palme of the high-powered Garland, Samuel and Loeb law firm located in Atlanta.

READ MORE: Six Months After Election, Georgia’s Fulton County STILL Can’t Provide Chain of Custody For Absentee Ballots

Samuels’ profile on SuperLawyers describes him as a “top-rated attorney with over 40+ years of legal experience” who “serves clients throughout the Atlanta metro region who face serious federal and state criminal charges.” Samuels’ areas of practice are listed as Criminal Defense and Criminal Defense: White Collar. His profile on Garland, Samuel and Loeb‘s website notes that “he is a frequent guest at CNN and local television programs concerning legal matters.” Palmer’s profile states that her practice “primarily focuses on criminal defense,” and notes that her past clients have included movie producers and the Rapper T.I.

READ MORE: Veteran Election Officials Say 30,000 Fake Ballots Found In Georgia Audit, ‘They’re Not Real’

National File’s previous reporting on Judge Brian Amero’s ruling in favor of the motion to inspect absentee ballots can be read in part below:

A Georgia judge has ruled in favour of a motion that would allow absentee ballots from the 2020 election in Fulton County to be unsealed and examined for possible voter fraud.

Judge Brian Amero, of the Henry County Superior Court in Georgia, made the ruling on the Fulton County absentee ballots on Thursday. At a hearing on Monday, Judge Amero had indicated that he was inclined to rule in favour of unsealing the ballots, but requested a detailed plan for any inspection from election integrity advocate Garland Favorito, who filed the suit. “We want to do this in such a way that dispels rumors and disinformation and sheds light,” Amero said during the hearing. “The devil’s in the details.”

The move was welcomed by the Greater Georgia group, an election engagement organisation currently chaired by former Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler. In a statement, Loeffler said that the organisation supports the ruling, and looks forward to the findings of the results of any inspection that comes as a result.