Bianco has described the pause as a response to what he called “politically motivated lawsuits and court filings,” according to multiple media reports.

The move comes as California Attorney General Rob Bonta pushes forward with a petition before the state Supreme Court in the case Attorney General v. Bianco. The filing seeks, among other things, to ensure that ballots and election materials taken from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters are preserved and returned.

A spokesperson for Bonta’s office told the Los Angeles Times that officials are continuing efforts in both the California Supreme Court and Riverside County Superior Court to enforce compliance and secure the return of the seized ballots.

Separately, the UCLA Voting Rights Project has also petitioned the state’s high court, arguing that California law requires all ballots to remain under the custody of the county registrar.

Bianco’s attorney, Murrieta-based Robert Tyler, told the Los Angeles Times that the sheriff is waiting for the courts to weigh in on what he described as complex legal questions, including the balance of authority between branches of government.

The investigation has drawn increasing scrutiny, particularly as Bianco campaigns for governor. Critics have accused him of pursuing claims of election fraud without sufficient evidence.

During a March 20 press conference, Bianco addressed questions about the probe, which centers on alleged irregularities tied to the Nov. 4 special election in Riverside County. That election resulted in the passage of Proposition 50, which redrew California’s congressional districts and was approved locally with 56.29% of more than 657,000 ballots cast.

Bianco had opposed the measure, and a third-party activist group later alleged discrepancies in the county’s ballot count — claims that Riverside County Registrar Art Tinoco has strongly denied.

Beginning Feb. 9, sheriff’s deputies served search warrants at the registrar’s office, seizing ballots and related election materials. Investigators began reviewing those ballots before a judge appointed a special master to oversee the process.

Bonta has argued in court filings that sheriff’s personnel lack the training and experience necessary to handle ballot counting. He also alleged that hundreds of additional boxes of election materials were seized in recent weeks.

The controversy has also taken on a political dimension. Opponents of Bianco have pointed to his support for former President Donald Trump and suggested the investigation may be tied to broader political ambitions.

In comments to the New York Times, former California Republican Party executive director Jon Fleischman said the timing of the probe raises questions, noting that it comes just months ahead of a statewide election.

California’s primary election is scheduled for June 2.

The post Chad Bianco Pauses Election Probe as Legal Battle Intensifies appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

    Bianco said the move is part of an ongoing investigation into claims that some ballots may have been improperly cast in connection with the vote on Proposition 50. The measure, which reshaped congressional district boundaries, was widely viewed as benefiting Democrats, mirroring redistricting efforts seen in Republican-led states such as Texas.

    State officials, however, have firmly rejected those claims. According to reporting by the Riverside Record, the difference between the machine count and the final certified tally was just 103 votes—far smaller than what some critics have suggested.

    The ballots were obtained after investigators from the sheriff’s office served search warrants on the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. Speaking at a press conference Friday, Bianco said a Superior Court judge has appointed a special master to oversee a physical count of the ballots.

    “This is straightforward,” Bianco said. “We’re going to count the ballots by hand and compare that number to what was officially recorded.”

    The investigation gained traction in part due to concerns raised by the Riverside Election Integrity Team, a group of local residents. The group has alleged a discrepancy of more than 45,000 votes between official totals and handwritten tallies from hand-counted ballots.

    Attorney General Rob Bonta pushed back strongly on those assertions, emphasizing that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

    “Counts, recounts, audits, and court rulings have all consistently supported the integrity of our elections,” Bonta said in a statement reported by the Los Angeles Times.

    Bonta also criticized the sheriff’s actions, calling the seizure of ballots highly unusual and warning it could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

    The situation carries political implications as well. Bianco is among the most visible Republicans in the race for governor, competing in a crowded primary field dominated by Democratic candidates. Under California’s top-two primary system, candidates from all parties appear on the same ballot, with the two highest vote-getters advancing to the general election.

    In recent weeks, Bonta has sent multiple letters to Bianco’s office questioning both the legality and the methodology of the investigation. In one letter, he described the ballot seizure as “unacceptable” and cautioned that it sets a troubling precedent.

    Proposition 50 itself was approved by California voters last year as part of a broader effort, backed by Governor Gavin Newsom, to counter redistricting moves in conservative states. Legal challenges from California Republicans and allies of former President Donald Trump were ultimately unsuccessful, with the U.S. Supreme Court declining to intervene.

The post Riverside County Sheriff Seizes 650,000 Ballots Amid Election Probe appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.