California Supreme Court Orders Riverside County Sheriff to Halt 2025 Election Investigation

The California Supreme Court issued an order on Wednesday directing Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to halt an investigation into a 2025 special election. The investigation led to the seizure of more than 650,000 ballots from a local election office.

Bianco, a Republican and candidate for governor, initiated the probe in late February following claims by election activists that vote tallies did not match the number of ballots received.

Local authorities debunked the activists' report. Despite this, Bianco continued the investigation and seized additional election materials in late March. The seizures occurred over objections from California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who stated that the efforts were based on unsubstantiated claims and could undermine public confidence in elections.

the Election The 2025 special election involved Californians voting on new boundaries for congressional districts.

The measure passed with overwhelming approval. The new boundaries were designed to establish congressional maps in California. The seized ballots from Riverside County had been counted and would not have altered the statewide outcome of the election.

The investigation has placed Bianco in conflict with state officials, including Bonta, whose office directed Bianco on multiple occasions to stop the probe and consult with the attorney general's office. Bianco maintained that the investigation was within his legal authority.

The Supreme Court's order requires Bianco to preserve all elements of the investigation, including the seized ballots, while the court considers the case.

The court did not mandate the return of the materials at this stage. A lower court has hearings scheduled for next week to address the return of the materials. California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement following the order.

“The decision reins in the destabilizing actions of a rogue sheriff, prohibiting him from continuing this investigation while our litigation continues.”

Bonta added that Bianco defied direct orders, seized 650,000 ballots, misused criminal investigatory tools, and created a constitutional emergency. Bianco's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The investigation reflects broader scrutiny of election processes in California.