Court unseals warrants Riverside sheriff used to seize ballots
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Riverside County Sheriff’s Department obtained secret warrants to seize over 650,000 ballots amid an election fraud investigation, but the warrants lack specific evidence of voter fraud, raising questions about the probe's legitimacy.
- California Supreme Court ordered the warrants unsealed and halted the investigation pending review, responding to legal challenges from Attorney General Rob Bonta and media organizations.
- The warrants, requested by a sheriff’s investigator citing an audit alleging ballot miscounts, were criticized by experts and Bonta for lacking probable cause and relying on unfounded conspiracy theories.
- Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate and Trump supporter, has suspended the investigation but remains confident it will continue despite legal opposition and court orders.
- The ballots in question stem from a November election on Proposition 50, with election officials disputing fraud claims and noting only a minor vote discrepancy; California law mandates ballots be preserved for a set period before destruction.
