Embattled San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus Denies Grand Jury Accusations at Court Appearance

Sheriff Christina Corpus of San Mateo County denied four allegations from a civil grand jury during her court appearance. The accusations involve three counts of retaliation against employees and one count of conflict of interest stemming from her hiring practices. Residents voted in March to empower the Board of Supervisors to pursue her removal, a process that is now underway. Corpus maintains that the allegations are unfounded and politically motivated, claiming she is the target of a "witchhunt" due to her gender and ethnicity. The civil trial will determine whether she remains in office.

The brief hearing lasted about five minutes, during which Corpus waived her right to a formal reading of the charges. Additionally, Sergeant Joe Fava, a witness in the investigation, was placed on leave, prompting concerns about retaliation. Corpus responded that Fava's removal is unrelated to the investigation, calling suggestions to the contrary "irresponsible.