Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill restricting law enforcement access to California ballots

Añadido: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]Tonight, California has a new law banning law enforcement from interfering in state elections and seizing ballots.

[00:00:06]>> That's right. CBS LA political reporter Tom Wait says the law also takes aim at President Trump's new $1.8 billion slush fund.

[00:00:15]>> Governor Newsom says this additional legislation is necessary because he believes President Trump is desperate with low poll numbers. Newsom believes that Trump will try to interfere at the ballot box.

[00:00:27]>> Well, thank you guys. Thank you.

[00:00:29]>> Governor Newsom signing new legislation that he says is intended to block efforts by President Trump to send in federal agents to intimidate voters at polling places.

[00:00:40]>> These guys are not screwing around.

[00:00:43]They're ruthless.

[00:00:44]>> Newsom and state Democrats say the new legislation will strengthen voter protections already in place. The law bans federal agents from entering polling places without a warrant and Newsom says it adds protections against the seizure of ballots by law enforcement. Newsom calling out Republican candidate for governor Chad Bianco, the Riverside County Sheriff, who used criminal warrants to seize hundreds of thousands of ballots from last fall's Prop 50 special election over unfounded claims that votes were not properly tabulated.

[00:01:15]>> You had a guy who's desperate for attention and wants me to use his name.

[00:01:18]Today, I won't. Um Uh that took 650,000 about that happened. Took the California Supreme Court to stop it on April 18th.

[00:01:28]>> Newsom has kept a low profile in the lead-up to the June 2nd primary as speculation swirls over whether he'll run for president in 2028. Newsom has not endorsed any of the Democrats running to replace him.

[00:01:40]>> I think Governor Newsom has been watching the uh ads for candidates running for office and the Democrats are all saying they're going to stand up to Trump. So, he must figure I'm going to I want to get in on that action, too.

[00:01:52]>> Also on Governor Newsom's agenda, thwarting any Californian from accessing President Trump's nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund created by acting attorney general Todd Blanche, who also served as President Trump's criminal defense attorney.

[00:02:09]Blanche says the fund could be used to pay out the rioters who attacked the capital on January 6th.

[00:02:15]>> It's a similar measure that's been introduced in New York State. The problem is it's constitutionally dubious at best, and even that's a compliment.

[00:02:25]Uh this is a taking. If you're taking 100% of something, that comes under the Fifth Amendment, and you can't do that without due process of law.

[00:02:33]>> There's already been intense bipartisan backlash to President Trump's anti-weaponization fund. Also, a group of judges and Capitol Police officers are suing to block it. Reporting from the newsroom, I'm Tom Wait, CBS LA.