Riverside County Sheriff Pushes Back Against State in Escalating Election Investigation Dispute

A growing legal battle between California’s top law enforcement official and a Southern California sheriff intensified this week, as Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco formally responded to a petition filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta seeking to halt an ongoing election investigation.

The dispute centers on the November 2025 special election, particularly Proposition 50. In a court filing submitted Tuesday, Bianco argued that his department’s investigation is both necessary and legally justified. The response includes sworn declarations from Bianco, Sheriff’s Sgt. James Merrill, and legal counsel, though portions of those documents have been redacted.

Bianco’s attorney, Robert Tyler, said the filing also directly challenges claims from the Attorney General’s Office that the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department improperly accessed voters’ personal information through seized ballots.

According to Bianco’s legal team, investigators have limited their review strictly to counting ballots, while all other materials remain sealed and unopened.

In a statement, Tyler criticized the state’s handling of the dispute, saying the Attorney General has declined multiple offers to work collaboratively with the sheriff’s department.

“I have offered no less than three times for them to collaborate with the sheriff’s department to count the ballots and put this to rest. Instead, the Attorney General has been desperate to file a case in the Court of Appeals, Riverside County Superior Court, and California Supreme Court. The amount of manpower and effort they have put into this to shut it down is mind-boggling.”

The Attorney General’s Office has not yet responded to requests for comment.

A hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 a.m., as both sides prepare to argue over the scope and legality of the sheriff’s investigation.