Sheriff Chad Bianco has asked Riverside County to cover the expenses of his legal defense after he seized hundreds of thousands of special‑election ballots. The request highlights a dispute over which party should bear the costs associated with the seizure.
The sheriff’s action involved taking a large number of ballots, prompting a legal battle that now includes a question of financial responsibility. Bianco’s appeal to the county seeks to shift the burden of his defense fees onto the local government.