Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that the Justice Department is suing the state of Georgia over the sweeping election law recently passed by Republicans, alleging it violates the federal Voting Rights Act.
Garland made the announcement Friday alongside the chief of DOJ's Civil Rights Division, Kristen Clarke, marking the first offensive effort by the Biden administration in opposition to Republican efforts around the country to enact new voter restrictions following the 2020 election.
Garland had signaled just last week that the department's Civil Rights Division would be taking a more aggressive stance against efforts to curb voting rights and voter access, saying in a speech that over the next 30 days he would seek to double the number of staff who handle voting rights protections.
MORE: Democrats, voting rights advocates blast new Georgia election bill
"We are scrutinizing new laws that seek to curb voter access, and where we see violations, we will not hesitate to act," Garland said. "We are also scrutinizing current laws and practices in order to determine whether they discriminate against Black voters and other voters of color."
MORE: Breaking down claims about Georgia's election law: What's true and what's not?
For months, President Joe Biden and other Democrats have been heavily critical of Georgia Republicans and Gov. Brian Kemp for signing the voting bill into law, equating it to "Jim Crow-era" segregation laws while arguing it's premised on the lie that widespread fraud tainted the 2020 election.
Seven other lawsuits have been filed against Georgia's election law.
MORE: Kemp signs sweeping elections bill passed by Georgia legislature. Here's what's in it.
At least 15 GOP-led states have enacted legislation with restrictive voting provisions in the 2021 legislative session, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
ABC News' Quinn Scanlan contributed to this report.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.