San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus is desperately fighting to keep her job amid corruption allegations.
Last week, she ran to court to avoid testifying before the civil grand jury. A judge denied her petition and ordered her to testify.
But by going to court, Corpus inadvertently revealed that she was being investigated by the civil grand jury — a fact that had not previously been known since grand jury proceedings are private. The civil grand jury, a group of mostly retirees empaneled by a judge, typically writes reports on improving government efficiency and eliminating waste. Not exciting stuff.
But the civil grand jury has a special power that is rarely used. It can recommend the removal of elected officials from office for “willful or corrupt misconduct.”
If the civil grand jury finds an elected official, such as a sheriff, should be removed, it brings an “accusation” against the official, which then triggers a jury trial to determine if the official should be removed. A guilty verdict doesn’t send an official to jail — but they have to step down.
Three years ago in Santa Clara County, the civil grand jury brought an accusation against then-sheriff Laurie Smith for accepting campaign donations in exchange for concealed weapons permits. The case went to trial, but Smith left office before the jury found her guilty of the accusation.
Corpus is accused of corruption, including conflicts of interest, nepotism, retaliation, intimidation, false arrest and making racial and homophobic slurs. The civil grand jury will likely have a long list of questions for the sheriff. The judge ruled Tuesday that Corpus couldn’t duck the subpoena and must testify.
Her lawyer said in a court filing that she is expected to testify either today (June 16) or tomorrow. If she fails to show up, she can be held in contempt and put in jail — possibly her own jail.
She can’t bring an attorney into the hearing room.
She could take the Fifth
If she invokes her Fifth Amendment right to refuse to testify because her testimony might incriminate her, she will only look guilty to the civil grand jury — bolstering the argument she should be removed from office.
Civil grand jurors might ask themselves: What crime did the sheriff do that makes her worried she might incriminate herself?
If she does testify, it will be under oath. So if she says something that contradicts the facts, she could be charged with perjury.
Would Corpus hurt her case by testifying? In 2024, the county was grappling with a sexual harassment and discrimination suit brought by Carryn Barker, a former sheriff’s deputy and SWAT team member.
The lawsuit was on its way to trial, but the plaintiffs wanted to hold a deposition to get testimony from Corpus under oath. The county tried to avoid the deposition, but it was scheduled to happen anyway. Just before Corpus was to testify, the county settled the case for $8 million. We don’t know why they settled. Would Corpus’ testimony have made the case worse for the county?
If she was considered to be a liability on the witness stand, then I can only imagine what will happen when she testifies this week before the civil grand jury.
Other efforts to remove her
As the civil grand jury investigates, the county Board of Supervisors are moving ahead with their own process to remove her from office. They’ve handed her with a list of reasons for why she should be fired. Next, they’ll have a hearing where the county’s lawyers and Corpus’ lawyers will give their sides of the story.
And District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe appears to be preparing a criminal case against Corpus and possibly others. If she’s convicted of any felony, she’ll lose her job. If it’s a theft misdemeanor, then she’s also gone. She’ll probably be able to keep her job if she’s convicted of any other type of misdemeanor.
Cutting her losses
I’m surprised that the expensive lawyers Corpus has hired haven’t counseled her to avoid all of this and make a deal with Wagstaffe and the county administration to resign, plead guilty to reduced charges and minimize her losses. If convicted, she’s a single mom who will be incarcerated. Who will take care of her two kids while she’s behind bars? When she gets out, it won’t be easy for her to get a job — certainly she won’t be able to return to law enforcement, the only field in which she has experience.
And she’ll have a mountain of debt — lawyer bills, civil suit verdicts and restitution to the county for the damage she’s done. That debt will follow her for the rest of her life unless she wins the lottery.
Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.
The road ahead for Corpus and her cronies indeed appears to include consideration of an action by the Civil Grand Jury, a criminal action either by a local criminal grand jury or by conventional DA court filing, firearms charges, a federal criminal proceeding for corruption, firearms violations or election charges, and multiple (up to a dozen, or more) civil tort lawsuits seeking punitive damages. It is doubtful, based on the track record of her attorneys, that they will find victory in any of their legal arguments.
At some point, Corpus and her cronies are more likely than not to be found guilty of multiple wrongdoings, and standing in front of judge(s) for sentencing. It is equally as likely that multiple cronies will be lined up, seeking to testify against both Corpus and Aenlle to control damages following their own corrupt behaviors supporting those two, making their own deal(s) with prosecutors.
It couldn’t seem to get any worse. That is unless any of the accused tries something more childish and foolish like calling in sick for a court, or any grand jury proceeding, or fleeing the jurisdiction of the courts. It couldn’t get any worse, or could it?
“Reap what you sow” Christina. You deserve everything that is headed your way…and it ain’t good. And just when you think it couldn’t get anymore shameful, she couldn’t even find the time to nominate someone from her agency for an upcoming public safety recognition event in Redwood City. No worries, the Deputy Sheriff’s Association is putting forth their own nominee on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office. Absolutely shameful Christina!
Will Corpus lose her pension if she fails to resign?
Corpus runs the risk of losing the benefits of her 37 Act retirement every day she puts off retirement. Under certain circumstances she could lose her retirement, per se.
However, what she would likely actually lose is the County contribution (roughly 2/3 of her account, plus any lifetime continuation after her own funds are exhausted) to her retirement account. The money that she has contributed would simply be refunded to her, along with any tax consequences depending on if her contributions were pre- or post-taxes. The County contributions would essentially shift and return to a County pool of funds.
If she’s convicted of a felony, she loses her pension as a matter of law.
Seriously?? Calling in sick after you were subpoenaed to testify before the Grand Jury??? How obvious and pathetic is that? She will flounder on the stand as she has zero real court room experience. She has done NOTHING during her career. Her unethical and criminal actions have gotten her to where she deserves to be. Climb in the bed you made Christina! Get comfy! This is exactly what you and “Dr.” Vicky deserve!!