A California sheriff running for governor has been ordered to halt his investigation into election fraud after seizing over 500,000 ballots from the 2025 election, the state supreme court ruled Wednesday.
The court put Chad Bianco's probe on pause while justices examine whether he has legal authority to possess election materials at all. The ruling represents a significant legal rebuke of the sheriff's unilateral action.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta triggered the intervention last month, arguing that Bianco overstepped his jurisdiction and lacked any legitimate power over ballots. The AG called the seizure a destabilizing move by what he characterized as a rogue sheriff.
A voting rights organization has also challenged the ballot seizure separately, raising additional legal questions about the materials' handling.
The order essentially freezes Bianco's investigation pending the court's full review of the case, preventing him from continuing to analyze or examine the seized ballots while the legal challenge proceeds.
Comments