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Editor’s note: March 24 at 4:35 p.m.: This story has been updated to include comment from Sheriff Chad Bianco.
Supervisor Jose Medina Monday called for an investigation into alleged misuse of funds by Sheriff Chad Bianco over his department’s investigation into alleged election fraud.
“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,” Medina said in a statement, noting that there was no evidence of election fraud in the county. “The Riverside County Board of Supervisors should not turn a blind eye while Sheriff Chad Bianco misuses valuable county resources for his own political gain.”
Bianco, in a statement to The Record, said Medina had his head “buried in political identity.”
“Jose Medina is a partisan politics cancer that has never existed in Riverside County government until now,” he said. “Elections have consequences, and Riverside, Perris and Moreno Valley residents are realizing theirs.”
The call came just days after the sheriff held a press conference about the investigation where he accused various elected officials, including Medina, of interfering.
“Four out of five of your elected Board of Supervisors are committed to a thorough, impartial and ethical investigation to confirm whether election results are accurate,” Bianco said during the press conference.
He also alleged Medina violated the rules surrounding items discussed in closed session by talking about the investigation at the March 10 meeting.
“I’ve been an elected official for many, many years,” Medina said in a Friday interview with The Record. “I respect the law, I respect the legal requirement, and I was very careful to reference that everything I mentioned was in the public record.”
Medina likened Bianco’s press conference to a campaign event, which allowed him to again make headlines ahead of Tuesday’s gubernatorial debate.
“I really do think the whole thing is a sham and that it is being used to get attention, which he has been very successful in doing,” Medina said in a Monday interview with The Record. “To me, it looked much more like a campaign event, and I don’t think that taxpayers’ money should be used for campaigning.”
Medina said he felt the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office (DA) and the county’s Fraud, Waste and Abuse Committee should launch an investigation into what he considered a misuse of public funds by the sheriff.
In a statement to The Record, the DA’s office said it was unable to comment on whether a complaint had been filed, though said its Public Integrity Unit does investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute criminal misconduct by elected or appointed public officials.
“Our office only reviews allegations or concerns submitted through our formal complaint process,” the statement said. “Until that occurs, a matter cannot be evaluated or acted upon by this office. This procedure ensures that all complaints are properly documented and helps maintain transparency, fairness, and objectivity throughout.”
Medina also reiterated his call for Bianco to take a leave of absence from his role as sheriff during the campaign.
“After watching last Friday’s so-called press conference, it is clear to me that Sheriff Chad Bianco has chosen to be a full-time candidate for governor of the state of California,” he said. “What is not clear to me is who is running the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.”
The county declined to comment.
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Medina needs to stay on this and file a formal complaint. WHY is the sheriff i vestigating when there is no evidence? He is responding to a citizens group which gave misleading information. I trust our Riverside County Registrar of Voters office and staff 100%.
How could you even say that with all the fraud in our state?
Thank you Supervisor Medina for standing up to Bianco’s blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars!
There’s needs to be a Swift and thorough investigation of misappropriation of funds long before the election. And Another investigation by the CA Sec of State who is responsible for Elections in California, as to Why would a Judge issue a warrant to a Sheriff vs The A Sec of State? And especially to a Sheriff running for office especially when there’s clearing a conflict of interest between his Campaign for Governor and Ballots that could affect the race. Its the CA. Sec of State to conduct investigations NOT for rogue Sheriff to willy-nilly to work outside his purview.
Do you know if the ballot counting continues while the court heats the da’s appeal?
This is unclear, but Attorney General Rob Bonta’s amended petition said the March 19 warrant did not order a recount or the appointment of a special master, as we reported here.