ONLY ON ABC7NEWS.COM: Contra Costa DA declines to comment on corruption allegations

MARTINEZ, Calif. (KGO) -- The Contra Costa County District Attorney is facing allegations of corruption Thursday.

Only ABC7 News spoke with Mark Peterson after a grand jury said he should be removed.

When asked if he had any comment on the grand jury report Peterson replied, "No comment."

He had little to say hours after a grand jury accused him of willful or corrupt misconduct in office, and recommended that he be removed.

The grand jury says Peterson secretly misappropriated over $66,000 in campaign funds on items of a personal nature from movie tickets to clothes between 2011 and 2015.

"Obviously we're disappointed in the actions of our boss," said Ryan Wagner of the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Association.

Wagner says an emergency meeting will be held Friday morning for a possible no-confidence vote in Peterson and suggestions for a possible replacement.

"This isn't about politics anymore," Wagner told ABC7 News. "It's about the people. It's about finding a person within this office who can galvanize and bring integrity back to the office."

Patrick Vanier announced last week he's running for Contra Costa County District Attorney. As for the grand jury accusation, "It certainly brings down the reputation of prosecutors throughout the state. It's conduct unbecoming for the top prosecutor of Contra Costa County -- a top prosecutor in Contra Costa County."

When asked what he thought about the grand jury's call to remove him from office Peterson said, "That statute is not applicable."

The grand jury report is the latest headache for Peterson who was sued by multiple colleagues after his election in 2010, who alleged they were punished for supporting Peterson's opponent.

A judge could appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the grand jury's findings.