Riverside Sheriff Halts Election Investigation Amid Legal Challenges

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, one of two prominent Republican gubernatorial candidates in California, announced on Saturday that his office is pausing its ongoing probe into election procedures. The decision comes as legal challenges against the investigation intensify.

Sheriff Bianco stated that the investigation was placed on hold specifically "because of the politically motivated lawsuits and court filings." This reversal follows swift legal action initiated last week by Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta and the UCLA Voting Rights Project.

Authority Over Ballots Questioned

The core of the legal dispute centers on the sheriff's authority to handle election materials. Both Bonta and the UCLA group argued in their filings that the sheriff lacks the legal jurisdiction over cast ballots.

Previously, Bianco defended the probe, asserting its legality and noting it had received approval from a Riverside County judge. This investigation involved the seizure of over 650,000 ballots from the November election.

Escalation and Continued Legal Action

The conflict escalated this month after Bonta ordered Bianco to cease his inquiry. In defiance, the sheriff seized an additional 426 boxes of ballots just last week, after having already seized materials earlier.

The Attorney General's office confirmed on Monday that it will proceed with its petitions in both the California Supreme Court and the superior court. The investigation initially began in February following a complaint from a local citizens group regarding the ballot count.

Voters Seek Return of Seized Materials

The UCLA Voting Rights Project filed a petition on Monday on behalf of several Riverside County voters. They are asking the state Supreme Court to mandate that Sheriff Bianco return the seized ballots while the legal proceedings are underway.

Sonni Waknin, an attorney with the UCLA group, emphasized the legal clarity surrounding the issue. "Our election law is clear that voted ballots are to remain in the custody of election officials, and nothing the sheriff has presented changes that basic rule," Waknin stated.

Local election officials had previously informed the county Board of Supervisors last month that the initial complaint prompting the seizure was unfounded. The ballot investigation occurs against a backdrop where former President Donald Trump has frequently disputed the results of the 2020 election.