Chad Bianco on Election Security

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Disputes over the role of federal law enforcement agencies in and around elections, including claims about their presence, authority, or conduct near polling places.

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Statement history

2 statements on this page. Dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026

2 matching statements. Dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026

2 published statements. Dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026

Defended or excused

2 published statements. Dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026

2 statements on this page. Dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026

Chad Bianco

Role at the time: Riverside County Sheriff

September 24, 2026Defended or excused

Response to this claim

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office lawfully seized the county's Proposition 50 ballots and other election materials under search warrants issued by a judge, because Elections Code section 15551(d) can be read to permit a seizure under a valid judicial warrant.

“We are very disappointed and wholeheartedly disagree with the court’s ruling … The investigation was a lawful and legal investigation into potential election fraud. The facts of this case have never been disputed, this was an obvious legal attempt to prevent the investigation from occurring that was successful. … The AG now has unchecked power over any investigation in the state of California … I will obey the writs. I will not obey the message behind them — that local law enforcement works for Sacramento, not for the people who elected us.”

Chad Bianco

Role at the time: Riverside County Sheriff, then a candidate for governor of California

March 20, 2026Defended or excused

Response to this claim

The Attorney General has no legal authority to order a sheriff to halt or pause a lawful criminal investigation.

“I was contacted by a representative of Attorney General Bonta and asked to halt this investigation until after March 6th. No reason was provided and there is no legal justification for the Attorney General to stop a lawful investigation. … Under direction of the court and the court's jurisdiction over all evidence, this investigation will continue despite A.G. Bonta's attempts to stop it. A.G. Bonta is part of the executive branch of this state. Under the separation of powers principle, A.G. Bonta does not have authority over the court or evidence, and I will carry out my constitutional duty to pursue justice impartially. … This investigation is simple. Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported.”

Watch the original videoElection Fraud Investigation Press Conference (Riverside County Sheriff's Office, March 20, 2026) · Riverside County Sheriff's OfficeStatement at 02:41-02:57, 03:20-03:45 and 04:04-04:11

Video of the March 20, 2026 news conference at which Sheriff Bianco publicly described the ballot investigation, said a court had ordered a special master, and responded to the Attorney General's directives to halt it.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

The reference point is the sheriff's seizure and handling of the ballots. Bianco calls the investigation lawful and says the Attorney General has no authority to stop it, which defends both the seizure and his continuing after the Attorney General's directives.

Read statement Was Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco's seizure of about 650,000 ballots lawful?