DA Anderson: AG asks too much on Riv. ballot issue

Three briefs have been filed in the past week regarding Attorney General Rob Bonta's case before the Supreme Court to halt Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco's investigation of the 2025 election.

The Riverside Sheriff's Office still has possession of the ballots, which Bianco has wanted to manually recount to determine the number of ballots cast. His investigation was started at the request of a group of Riverside citizens. Riverside Superior Judge Jay Kiel, who issued the warrants to seize the ballots and start a count of the ballots under the authority of a special master, has paused the recount until the Supreme Court makes their decision.

The briefs are brought by San Bernardino District Attorney Anderson, nine county registrars and the California State Sheriff's Association.

Question before the court

The Supreme Court will review the case to answer three questions:

( 1) What is the scope of the Attorney General's constitutional and statutory authority to supervise and direct the activities of a county sheriff?

(2) Is the Attorney General entitled to a writ of mandate directing the Riverside Sheriff to comply with the Attorney General's directives, including the Attorney General's directive to cease the Sheriff's investigation into the November 2025 special election?

(3) Is the Attorney General entitled to a writ of mandate directing the superior court to quash or stay execution of a search warrant if the warrant was issued in contravention of the Attorney General's directive or defective on its face?

This post is for subscribers only

Become a member to get access to all content

Subscribe now