The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for March 30, 2025
A California county sheriff running for governor obtained a warrant from an elected judge he endorsed, then seized over 1,000 boxes of ballots from last November’s Proposition 50 redistricting referendum. After a warning from the state attorney general, he seized 426 more.
Cal Matters reports that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco denied cronyism after Judge Jay Kiel, whom Bianco endorsed in 2022, issued the original warrant for the seizure of 650,000 ballots. Three warrants have been sealed at the request of Bianco.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued March 26th in Riverside County Superior Court seeking to stop Bianco’s QUOTE, “amateur and dubious ‘recount.’” Secretary of State Shirley Weber said in a statement, QUOTE, “He and his deputies are not elections officials and they do not have expertise in election administration.”
Bianco, a former member of the extremist Oath Keepers militia and linked with the “constitutional sheriff” movement, says he is investigating a “potential 45,000 extra votes” during the referendum, as calculated by, QUOTE, “citizen volunteers.” Riverside County Supervisor Jose Medina said in a statement, “The only fraud I see is a candidate for Governor of the State of California using Riverside County resources and personnel to advance his own political agenda.”
We’ve linked to the local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Cyberscoop – State officials, election experts question California sheriff’s seizure of ballots
CalMatters – California sheriff says his seizure of more than 600,000 ballots is ‘normal law enforcement’
CA Attorney General – Warning Letter to Sheriff Chad Bianco
ABC 10 – California AG says Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized 426 additional boxes of ballots
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE (Via Democracy Docket – VERIFIED PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDATE
CA Secretary of State – California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Sets the Record Straight about Accusations of Election Irregularities and Investigation Interference in Riverside County
KABC – (2021) Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco acknowledges he was dues-paying member of Oath Keepers in 2014
Riverside County Supervisor Jose Medina – SUPERVISOR RAISES CONCERNS OVER BALLOT SEIZURE AND MISUSE OF COUNTY RESOURCES
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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