*Christina Corpus warns she will not leave her post and names her controversial chief of staff as assistant sheriff.
Before the Board of San Mateo County SupervisorsSheriff Christina Corpus reiterated on Wednesday, November 13, that not only does she not plan to resign from her position as sheriff, but she has named Victor Aenlle as “assistant sheriff.”
Aenlle, born in Cuba, is her chief of staff, and an independent investigation report requested by county lawmakers says he has “an intimate relationship” with the sheriff that creates a conflict of interest and runs afoul of police organization rules.
Corpus appeared spontaneously at the special supervisors' meeting and asked to be included among the members of the public who were expressing their opinions. Speaking at the meeting, she said, “The investigation [into her] is politically motivated, biased and full of lies. I am the sheriff of this county, elected by the people, and I will not be intimidated.”
The sheriff was already leaving the chamber when District 3 Supervisor Ray Mueller asked her if he could submit sworn testimony to the former judge who conducted the investigation, LaDoris Cordell. Corpus turned to the supervisors and reiterated that she would not be intimidated. “I will testify when I get legal representation,” she said, and left the chamber accompanied by her deputy, Dan Perea.
The 400-page report by former Santa Clara County Judge Cordell alleges that the sheriff has a personal relationship with Aenlle, which in practice “would have caused her to delegate control of the agency to her chief of staff, creating an internal atmosphere of lies, secrets, retaliation, conflicts of interest and abuse of authority.”
Following the exchange, the supervisors voted unanimously to ask Sheriff Corpus to resign. They also unanimously decided that she is “no longer trustworthy” in her current position (“vote of no confidence”).
They also agreed to submit a report to a grand jury alleging that Corpus engaged in "extreme abuse of power."
The charges against the first Latina to serve as sheriff in the county would then be considered by District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe, if he finds merit in them.
The county executive, who was present at the meeting, also said he is considering issuing an order that Victor Aenlle not be allowed into the new sheriff's building, "beyond where the public has access." Aenlle is a civilian employee of the organization; he has not taken an oath as all police officers must.
Corpus cannot be removed from office directly by the supervisors because she was elected by voters. But lawmakers have the power to ask voters to approve an amendment to the county charter that would allow them to do so in the medium term.
The Charter is a sort of “mini-Constitution” that grants certain local powers to the county beyond state authority.
Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller, who commissioned the investigation into the sheriff's office after receiving "numerous complaints," said they would be willing to support a recall, or removal of Corpus from office by popular vote, if any sector of the citizenry decides to present it to the electorate for consideration.
“This is a scandal that benefits no one” in our society, Mueller said in a meeting with the press after Wednesday’s meeting, while Corzo said he is “very concerned” about what is happening.
“I care a lot about her as a person, as a leader, as a woman, as a Latina,” said Noelia Corzo, representative of District 2. “I am even concerned about her physical integrity,” she admitted.
The union that represents sheriff's deputies had called the press before the legislative meeting to ask county supervisors to request Corpus' resignation, because they say they "do not trust his leadership ability" at the current time.
On Tuesday, union president Carlos Tapia was arrested on charges of felony grand theft, but union leaders claim that this was actually a reprisal because Tapia had denounced alleged irregularities in the police organization.
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