California high court questions Riverside County sheriff’s ballot investigation

The California Supreme Court heard arguments Monday over whether Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco must return roughly 650,000 ballots he seized during a criminal investigation into an alleged discrepancy in November's Prop 50 vote. Bianco, who was running for governor when he launched the probe, obtained warrants after a citizens group's audit claimed 46,000 more ballots were counted than cast.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued to halt the recount, calling it a 'fishing expedition meant to sow distrust,' and accused Bianco of continuing to defy a directive to pause. The court has already ordered Bianco to stop and preserve all seized items pending review.

Justices pressed Bianco's attorney on why Elections Code language stating ballots shall 'in no event' leave election officials' custody wouldn't apply post-election, with Justice Kelli Evans saying she was 'just not following your argument.' The court also probed the scope of the attorney general's authority over sheriffs, with Bianco's side insisting the AG plays only an advisory role and the state arguing supervision is 'direct.'

The full dispatch is available from the source below.