San Mateo County supervisors unanimously vote to force Sheriff Corpus out of office

(KRON) — The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 Tuesday to proceed with forcing Sheriff Christina Corpus out of office. The sheriff declared that she will not step down voluntarily due to public pressure and “politics.”

County officials said law firm Keker Van Nest & Peters compiled 524 pages of documentary evidence and interviewed 42 witnesses before concluding that the sheriff engaged in multiple acts of misconduct.

Corpus’ alleged misconduct included violating the law related to a sheriff’s duties, flagrant or repeated neglect of duties, misappropriation of public funds, willful falsification of documents, and obstructing an investigation.

County officials wrote, “Today’s decision to proceed required a four-fifths vote by the Board of Supervisors and follows a process that the voters authorized the Board to develop and implement under Measure A, a County Charter amendment passed by 84 percent of voters in March 2025. The sheriff has five days to appeal the Board’s decision and request a full evidentiary hearing with sworn testimony before a neutral hearing officer selected.”

The sheriff would be required to personally attend and testify for the hearing. It would be open to the public and evidence against her would be presented.

Following Tuesday’s vote, Sheriff Corpus sent a prepared statement to KRON4, writing, “Let me be clear: I am not going anywhere. I was elected by the people of San Mateo County, and I will continue to serve them with the integrity, courage, and commitment that this office demands. I will fight this unjust persecution to the very end — because the truth matters, and so does the will of the voters.”

The sheriff added, “My duty is to the community, not to politics.”

Tensions and turmoil caused by Corpus’ relationship with an alleged boyfriend were detailed in an investigation report released in May. The investigation was triggered by a claim filed by Corpus against County Executive Mike Callagy. Her tenure as sheriff has been rocked by scandals with deputies accusing Corpus and Victor Aenlle of creating a hostile working environment. Witnesses told investigators that the sheriff and Aenlle act like “a cult of two.”

Callagy told investigators that he believed Corpus could have been a “rock star” sheriff. “However, he felt she ultimately gave all her power away to Aenlle, which led to her professional challenges,” the report states. Aenlle served as Corpus’ campaign manager and chief of staff.

In a September 2024 letter to the Board of Supervisors, Corpus formally accused Callagy of bullying and discriminating against her because she is a Latina woman. The sheriff wrote, “I write to you with an immediate call to action to address the retaliation, abuse of power, sexual discrimination, and bullying tactics of your employee, County Executive Mike Callagy. Mr. Callagy told me that I had to inform him of when and who I dated within the county — a request I found not only offensive but demeaning and discriminatory. I was shocked and appalled. I cannot imagine he would have made such a request of my predecessors, all of whom were men.”

Attorneys said the proceedings to oust Corpus officially from office may take up to four months.