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Riverside County Sheriff ordered to return 650,000 seized ballots
The California Supreme Court issued unanimous rulings against Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, declaring his seizure of approximately 650,000 ballots from a 2025 special election unlawful. The court found that Bianco violated state law, which requires voted ballots to remain in the custody and control of election officials, even during criminal investigations.
In a separate but related decision, the justices ruled that Bianco broke the law by ignoring directives from Attorney General Rob Bonta to halt his investigation and reverse course. The court held that the Attorney General has the constitutional authority to issue binding directions to sheriffs to ensure the uniform enforcement of state laws.
The court ordered Bianco to return all seized materials to county election officials and to refrain from any further handling of the ballots. The rulings come as election officials and civil rights groups monitor potential interference ahead of upcoming midterm elections.
Entities
California Supreme Court · Chad Bianco · Gavin Newsom · Patricia Guerrero · Riverside County · Rob Bonta · UCLA Voting Rights Project
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 7 SOURCES] The court ordered Bianco to end his investigation into the ballots pending a review by the Attorney General. www.rwcpulse.com · www.mv-voice.com · www.paloaltoonline.com · www.livermorevine.com · www.danvillesanramon.com · +2 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Sheriff Chad Bianco must return more than 650,000 seized ballots to county election officials. www.rwcpulse.com · www.mv-voice.com · www.paloaltoonline.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · www.livermorevine.com · +10 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Chad Bianco seized the ballots as part of a criminal investigation following a complaint from a local citizens group. www.winnipegfreepress.com · looniepolitics.com · abc7.com · freerepublic.com · www.durangoherald.com
- [● 13 SOURCES] The ruling by the California Supreme Court was unanimous. www.rwcpulse.com · www.mv-voice.com · www.paloaltoonline.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · www.livermorevine.com · +7 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] The court ruled Bianco broke the law by ignoring directives from Attorney General Rob Bonta to reverse course. www.rwcpulse.com · www.mv-voice.com · www.paloaltoonline.com · www.livermorevine.com · www.danvillesanramon.com · +5 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco broke the law by seizing ballots. www.rwcpulse.com · www.mv-voice.com · www.paloaltoonline.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com · www.livermorevine.com · +12 more