Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has halted his investigation into alleged voter fraud in California's Proposition 50 special election, citing legal challenges that have impeded the probe.

Bianco, who had seized approximately 650,000 ballots as part of the investigation, said the inquiry came to a halt due to what he described as "politically motivated lawsuits and court filings." The sheriff did not specify the nature of the legal challenges or identify the parties involved in filing them.

The investigation has drawn opposition from California's state attorney general, according to reports. The probe focused on the Proposition 50 special election held last fall, though details about the specific allegations of fraud have not been disclosed.

Bianco is currently running for governor of California and is considered one of the top two Republican candidates in the race. He has been described as a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump.

The decision to pause the investigation represents a significant shift for Bianco, who had previously pursued the probe despite facing criticism. The sheriff has not indicated whether he plans to resume the investigation once the legal challenges are resolved.

The large number of ballots seized in the investigation had made it one of the more notable election fraud probes in California in recent years. Election officials and legal experts have not yet commented publicly on the impact of halting the investigation.