A California appellate court has denied an appeal from Attorney General Rob Bonta to halt an election fraud investigation led by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. The court ruled that the appeal should have been filed in a lower court, not addressing the merits of the case. Bonta's office stated that the sheriff's actions violate the California Constitution and state law, and they are evaluating next steps to resolve the matter swiftly.
Sheriff Bianco, who is campaigning for governor, seized 650,000 ballots from the November 2025 special election concerning Proposition 50, which redrew congressional districts to help gerrymander the state in favor of Democrats. He described his investigation as a "fact-finding mission" and emphasized the importance of verifying the accuracy of the election results.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and local election officials have contested Bianco's claims, asserting that the difference in counts is only about 100 votes. Weber stated that the sheriff and his deputies lack the expertise necessary for election administration, warning that the sheriff's investigation risks undermining public confidence in elections. Bonta has echoed this sentiment, arguing that no specific crime has been identified to justify the sheriff's actions.
The investigation's timing coincides with Bianco's gubernatorial campaign, raising questions about potential political motivations behind the ballot seizure. Bianco maintains that his investigation is unrelated to his campaign, asserting he has a duty to address alleged crimes in Riverside County.
Chandra Bhatnagar, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, criticized Bianco's approach, labeling it a serious threat to voter privacy and the democratic process. Bhatnagar emphasized that law enforcement should not be involved in election administration, cautioning against the misuse of authority for political gain. This sentiment reflects broader concerns about the integrity of electoral processes amid rising tensions surrounding election security.
As the situation unfolds, the implications for upcoming elections in Riverside County remain uncertain, with potential impacts on voter confidence and election integrity.
A California appellate court has denied an appeal from Attorney General Rob Bonta to halt an election fraud investigation led by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. The court ruled that the appeal should have been filed in a lower court, not addressing the merits of the case. Bonta's office stated that the sheriff's actions violate the California Constitution and state law, and they are evaluating next steps to resolve the matter swiftly.
Sheriff Bianco, who is campaigning for governor, seized over 611,000 ballots from the 2025 special election concerning Proposition 50, which aimed to alter congressional districts. Bianco claims there is a discrepancy of approximately 45,800 votes, alleging that the reported totals do not match the ballots. He described his investigation as a "fact-finding mission" and emphasized the importance of verifying the accuracy of the election results.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber and local election officials have contested Bianco's claims, asserting that the difference in counts is only about 100 votes. Weber stated that the sheriff and his deputies lack the expertise necessary for election administration, warning that the sheriff's investigation risks undermining public confidence in elections. Bonta has echoed this sentiment, arguing that no specific crime has been identified to justify the sheriff's actions.
The investigation's timing coincides with Bianco's gubernatorial campaign, raising questions about potential political motivations behind the ballot seizure. Political consultant Paul Mitchell noted the competitive nature of the upcoming primary, where only the top two candidates will advance to the general election. Bianco maintains that his investigation is unrelated to his campaign, asserting he has a duty to address alleged crimes in Riverside County.
Chandra Bhatnagar, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, criticized Bianco's approach, labeling it a serious threat to voter privacy and the democratic process. Bhatnagar emphasized that law enforcement should not be involved in election administration, cautioning against the misuse of authority for political gain. This sentiment reflects broader concerns about the integrity of electoral processes amid rising tensions surrounding election security.
With the appellate court's ruling, Bonta's office is left to consider further legal actions to challenge Bianco's investigation. The attorney general's office has previously communicated its position that the sheriff's office lacks the legal authority to conduct such a recount. As the situation unfolds, the implications for upcoming elections in Riverside County remain uncertain, with potential impacts on voter confidence and election integrity.
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