The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for April 13, 2026
The California Supreme Court temporarily halted a Riverside County sheriff’s investigation into the 650,000 Proposition 50 redistricting referendum ballots he seized last month. Unsealed “evidence” used to secure the warrant confirms it came from an election-denier activist group, not state elections authorities.
The state’s high court paused the quest by Sheriff Chad Bianco, a GOP gubernatorial candidate, to find 45,896 of the county’s 657,322 ballots cast, ordering him to QUOTE “show cause before this court.” The same day, a lower court unsealed the affidavits used to obtain three warrants for February 9th and 23rd, and March 19th, prepared by Riverside County Sheriff Department investigator Robert Castellanos. In an apparent effort to establish a pattern of illegal activity, Castellanos also referenced closed investigations from 2022, 2023 and 2024.
The affidavits confirm that the evidence was provided by the Riverside County Election Integrity Team, a citizen activist group, alleging, QUOTE, “Various issues regarding potential election fraud,” UNQUOTE.
The document referenced no evidence from California Secretary of State election investigators or other authorities. CalMatters reports that it is also common practice for a county attorney to sign off on such affidavits, but that no such signature was present on the documents. The warrants were all signed by Judge Jay Kiel, whose election Bianco endorsed.
We’ve linked to the unsealed affidavits at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
CA Superior Court – County of Riverside (via Election Law Blog) – March 19 Affidavit & Search Warrant
CA Superior Court – County of Riverside (via Election Law Blog) – Feb. 23 Affidavit & Search Warrant
CA Superior Court – County of Riverside (via Election Law Blog) – Feb. 9 Affidavit & Search Warrant
Riverside Election Integrity Team – Activist Group Providing ‘Evidence’ for Affidavit
California Supreme Court – Order Temporarily Halting Sheriff Chad Bianco’s Investigation
Courthouse News Service – California Supreme Court halts Riverside County ballot investigation
CalMatters – We went to court to unseal the warrants behind Sheriff Chad Bianco’s ballot seizures. What they reveal
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – California Sheriff Obtains Warrant from Judge He Endorsed, Then Seizes More than 650,000 Ballots for ‘Recount’ of 2025 Redistricting Referendum
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters CA, Common Cause CA, Campaign Legal Center
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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