Controversy Surrounds Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's Ballot Seizure

Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, California, has come under scrutiny for his decision to seize approximately 650,000 ballots based on unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud. This action, executed through warrants obtained in February and March, is linked to a special election where voters approved Proposition 50, a referendum to redraw congressional districts. Despite the referendum passing by nearly 30 points statewide and by over 82,000 votes in Riverside County, Bianco's investigation was prompted by claims from a citizen activist group alleging a discrepancy of 45,896 ballots between those cast and counted. However, the county's registrar of voters, Art Tinoco, stated that these claims were misleading and that the actual count showed 103 more ballots counted than voters recorded, a discrepancy within acceptable limits.

The Guardian

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has initiated legal action to halt Bianco's investigation, labeling it an "amateur and dubious 'recount'" that threatens public confidence in upcoming elections. Bonta's concerns center on the potential for Bianco's actions to create distrust in the electoral process, not only in Riverside County but statewide. In response, Bianco announced the suspension of his investigation, attributing the decision to ongoing lawsuits and political motivations behind them. He has denied any political influence on his actions, asserting that his investigation was legitimate and necessary.

The Guardian

Critics, including Darius Kemp, executive director of the California chapter of Common Cause, have expressed skepticism regarding the legitimacy of Bianco's claims, suggesting that he is "chasing ghosts" without evidence. Bianco's ties to the Riverside Election Integrity Team, the group behind the allegations, have raised further questions about the motivations behind his investigation. Shelby Bunch, a member of the group, indicated that Bianco had previously sought warrants unsuccessfully, suggesting a pattern of frustration with the judicial system.

The Guardian

Bianco's actions reflect a broader trend among some sheriffs aligned with the constitutional sheriff's movement, which posits that sheriffs possess authority surpassing that of federal officials. This movement has previously led to attempts to seize voting machines and has been associated with the propagation of false claims regarding the 2020 election. Experts like Katherine Reisner from the States United Democracy Center have noted that investigations initiated without sufficient evidence often result in prosecutors declining to pursue charges due to lack of substantiation.

The Guardian

The warrants obtained by Bianco remain sealed, preventing a full assessment of the basis for his claims. The ongoing legal proceedings initiated by Bonta may further complicate the situation, as the implications of Bianco's actions continue to unfold in the lead-up to the June primary elections. The controversy surrounding the ballot seizure raises critical questions about electoral integrity and the role of law enforcement in election-related matters.

The Guardian

• “The sheriff’s misguided investigation threatens to sow distrust and jeopardize public confidence in the upcoming primary and general elections, not just in Riverside county but around the state.” — Rob Bonta, California Attorney General

The Guardian

• “This investigation was kept very quiet by me; it was twisted into a political event and brought to the public by an absolute embarrassment to law enforcement, Rob Bonta.” — Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff

The Guardian

• “Until evidence is actually provided, it seems like the Riverside sheriff is out there chasing ghosts,” — Darius Kemp, Executive Director, Common Cause California

The Guardian

• “What we see with the constitutional sheriff’s movement is some isolated, infrequent, rare cases where a sheriff has pursued an investigation where there isn’t really sufficient predicate evidence to go and pursue it,” — Katherine Reisner, Director of Public Safety and Elections, States United Democracy Center

The Guardian