Victor Aenlle, the former chief of staff to Sheriff Christina Corpus — who faces multiple efforts to remove her from office — has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against San Mateo County, County Executive Officer Michael Callagy and other top officials. The suit alleges “retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, and abuse of power.”
The lawsuit, announced Thursday by his attorneys at the Fellner Law Group in San Francisco, claims county officials “illegally targeted and fired Aenlle” last year for supporting Corpus, the county’s first Latina sheriff.
Aenlle has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Corpus and of usurping her authority. He is a central figure in the ongoing effort to remove her. Both deny the allegations, saying their relationship was strictly professional and that hiring civilians to executive roles is not unusual.
The 114-page complaint alleges county officials relied on “code enforcement, illegal searches, and false reports” to harass and intimidate Aenlle before wrongfully terminating him.
According to a news release from Fellner Law, the lawsuit seeks accountability for alleged violations of Aenlle’s constitutional rights. Those include the First Amendment right to free speech, the Fourth Amendment protection against unlawful searches and seizures, and the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees of due process and equal protection.
“This case is about standing up for the fundamental rights of every American — free speech, due process, and equal protection under the law,” Aenlle said in a statement. “If they can do this to me, they can do it to anyone.”
The news organization reached out to San Mateo County for comment, but had not received a response as of this posting.
Corpus is meanwhile fighting two separate efforts to oust her.
One is under Measure A, a voter-approved initiative passed in March, granting the Board of Supervisors authority to remove an elected sheriff through 2028. The other stems from a civil grand jury accusation filed in June alleging misconduct and abuse of power. If removed, she would be the first elected sheriff in California ever ousted by a county board.
The Measure A removal hearing concluded in late August. Retired Judge James Emerson, who presided over the proceedings, has 45 days to submit his recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The board will then have 30 days to review and vote.
Removing Corpus would require a four-fifths vote. If supervisors oust her, they would have 30 days to appoint a replacement or call a special election. If they fail to act, the county elections office must schedule an election immediately — meaning the issue may not be resolved until late fall.
Ryan Macasero
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