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Sheriff Pauses Election Fraud Probe Amid Legal Challenges

4/1/2026

Center

Sheriff Halts Investigation

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco paused his election fraud investigation after California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed legal challenges.
Bianco had seized more than 650,000 ballots from the November special election, citing discrepancies.
Bonta argues Bianco's actions are illegal and that no crimes have been identified.
The UCLA Voting Rights Project filed a petition to keep ballots with the county registrar.
A court hearing is scheduled to address Bonta's petition.

Right

Morgan Exposes Fraud

Herb Morgan, a Republican candidate for California state controller, says California faces up to $425 billion in fraud, waste, and abuse.
His report identifies $95–$115 billion tied to Medi-Cal and $55 billion in unemployment insurance.
Morgan accuses Governor Gavin Newsom of lacking controls to track fund usage and notes high fraud rates.
Newsom's office has not commented, while Republican scrutiny of state spending and fraud has increased.

History

Historical Context

In the 2020 presidential election, California faced scrutiny over election integrity, with over 100,000 ballots flagged for discrepancies. This concern echoes historical instances of electoral fraud, such as the 1982 Illinois elections, where 100,000 fraudulent votes were reported. Sheriff Chad Bianco's recent actions and Attorney General Rob Bonta's legal challenges highlight ongoing debates about voting security, potentially reshaping public trust in electoral processes.

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Sheriff Halts Investigation

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco paused his election fraud investigation after California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed legal challenges.
Bianco had seized more than 650,000 ballots from the November special election, citing discrepancies.
Bonta argues Bianco's actions are illegal and that no crimes have been identified.
The UCLA Voting Rights Project filed a petition to keep ballots with the county registrar.
A court hearing is scheduled to address Bonta's petition.

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