San Mateo Co. supervisors initiate removal process for Sheriff Christina Corpus
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Thursday initiated the process to remove embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus from office.
In a unanimous 5-0 decision, the board voted to send the sheriff a Notice of Intent to Remove, which includes the reasons for considering her removal and a date to appear at a pre-removal conference.
Supervisors said the conference would occur within five days of Corpus receiving the notice and the hearing would be presided by the county's Chief Probation Officer.
The board gained the power to remove the sheriff after 84% of voters approved Measure A in a special election in March. The measure temporarily amended the County Charter to remove a sheriff from office for cause.
Corpus has been facing months of scrutiny following a scathing independent report released last November by retired judge LaDoris Cordell into allegations of abuse of power at the sheriff's office.
Cordell's report made multiple accusations against the sheriff, including intimidation, retaliation, the use of racial and homophobic slurs and conflicts of interest. Corpus is also accused of having a personal relationship with Victor Aenelle, her chief of staff.
The report concluded that "Sheriff Corpus step down and that Victor Aenlle's employment by the sheriff's office be terminated immediately. Nothing short of new leadership can save this organization."
The sheriff has repeatedly denied the allegations and has refused multiple calls to resign from local leaders and Deputy Sheriff's Association, which led to supervisors calling for the special election. In April, Corpus released her own report rebuttting Cordell's investigation.
Corpus has also filed a $10 million lawsuit against the county, alleging discrimination and harassment.
Under Measure A, removal of Corpus requires a four-fifths majority vote by the board of supervisors and Corpus will have an opportunity to defend her case. The board's authority to remove the sheriff expires at the end of 2028.
Corpus, the county's first Latina sheriff, was elected in 2022.
According to the county's outside counsel, the earliles the proceedings could conculde is approximately four months.
