Former top San Mateo sheriff’s aide files federal civil rights lawsuit against county

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 officers The suit alleges retaliation wrongful termination defamation and abuse of power The lawsuit declared Thursday by his attorneys at the Fellner Law Group in San Francisco proposes county agents illegally targeted and fired Aenlle last year for supporting Corpus the county s first Latina sheriff Related Articles Opinion Removing Sheriff Christina Corpus isn t oversight It s a coup From brothels and Batmobiles to removal hearings San Mateo County Sheriff s Office has a long line of scandals Judge orders partial release of spending records in Sheriff Corpus corruption probe Sheriff Corpus takes stand as San Mateo County removal hearings close Sheriff Corpus allies defend her in high-stakes San Mateo County removal hearing 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 charges saying their relationship was strictly professional and that hiring civilians to executive roles is not exceptional The -page complaint alleges county personnel 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 situation is about standing up for the fundamental rights of every American free speech due process and equal protection under the law Aenlle declared in a comment 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 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 days to submit his recommendation to the Board of Supervisors The board will then have days to review and vote Removing Corpus would require a four-fifths vote If supervisors oust her they would have days to appoint a replacement or call a special voting If they fail to act the county elections office must schedule an electoral contest instantly meaning the issue may not be resolved until late fall