San Mateo Co. sheriff won't resign, promotes controversial staffer to asst. sheriff amid scandal
SAN MATEO, Calif. (KGO) -- The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Wednesday to declare it has no confidence in Sheriff Christina Corpus to continue her job, amid allegations of abuse of power.
The decision came after Corpus made a dramatic entrance - and quick exit - into the meeting to defend herself. She denies all wrongdoing.
"What has happened the last few days is disgusting," Corpus told the board. "This inquiry was politically motivated and one-sided and filled with lies."
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This all follows the Tuesday release of a report that accuses Corpus of having an inappropriate relationship with her chief of staff, Victor Aenlle. Supervisors are also asking him to resign.
Corpus said because of this, she is appointing Aenlle to the position of assistant sheriff "effective immediately."
"I am the sheriff of this county. I answer to the people of San Mateo County, who elected me. I will not be bullied," she said before storming out.
Supervisors also voted to have their counsel look into whether or not Corpus legally is able to appoint Aenlle as her assistant.
What is Sheriff Corpus accused of?
Among other things, the nearly 400-page report accuses the sheriff of abuse of power, using intimidation and retaliation tactics, as well as having an inappropriate personal relationship with her chief of staff. It also alleges the sheriff used racist and homophobic language.
"Lies, secrecy, intimidation, retaliation, conflicts of interest, and abuses of authority are the hallmarks of the Corpus administration," the report reads. "Sheriff Corpus should step down and Victor Aenlle's employment with the Sheriff's Office should be terminated immediately. Nothing short of new leadership can save this organization that is in turmoil, and its personnel demoralized."
The investigation was prompted by complaints from sheriff's office staff. It was independently conducted by retired Santa Clara Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell.
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Sheriff deputies push back on Cordell's claims
In a Wednesday press conference, the union said that Corpus' decision to arrest Tapia has "all the earmarks of whistleblower retaliation."
Tapia had been one of many officers who criticized the sheriff's office.
Union members also slammed the sheriff for calling the investigation politically motivated.
"I find it a little hard to believe that Corpus would make the rest of us believe that someone who is as respected in her field like Judge Cordell would somehow have fabricated a 400-page report, which was prepared at taxpayers' expense," said Det. Eliot Storch, secretary of the union. "I don't think that's plausible. I don't think that's reasonable."
What comes next?
San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said his office received the report from the board Wednesday morning and will take next steps as they do in any other investigations.
"We have to prove these things beyond reasonable doubt if there is a violation. And we want to make sure that we have that and we don't jump into the pool of political comment," Wagstaffe told ABC7 News.
With Corpus showing no signs of intent to resign, the board could take action in another way besides waiting for a potential recall to be placed on a future ballot.
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"We can bring a charter amendment before the public, where we would go ahead and say to them, under these specific circumstances, you would go ahead and give the board the power to remove the sheriff," Supervisor Ray Mueller told ABC7 News.
ABC7 News reached out to the sheriff's office for further comments, and we were told that her remarks at the Board of Supervisors meeting Wednesday night spoke for themselves.
Read the full investigation report below or click here.
