National figure joins San Mateo Co. Sheriff Corpus' legal team, highlights excessive deputy overtime

Thursday, August 7, 2025

National figure joins San Mateo Co. sheriff's legal team

SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- A major figure from the national stage joins the legal team for San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, who is suing each county supervisor to prevent them from firing her.

That hearing takes place Thursday in San Francisco Federal Court, and I-Team reporter Dan Noyes has an interview you'll see only on ABC7 News.

TIMELINE: San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus investigation

Tom Perez has a long history both in politics and the Department of Justice, and in the morning, he will appear in federal court on behalf of Sheriff Corpus.

Here's a look at where he's worked:

As a civil rights prosecutor in the Department of Justice under Republican and Democratic administrations

Headed the Civil Rights Division under President Obama, then became Labor Secretary

Chairman of the Democratic National Committee for four years

Senior Adviser in the Biden White House, and Director of its Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

ABC7 News sat down with Perez to find out why he decided to join such a local case between the board of supervisors and the sheriff.

"Oh, there's a broader principle that is as old as the republic here. It's the principle of fairness," said Perez.

Perez echoes the lawsuit Sheriff Corpus has filed against each county supervisor, seeking a permanent injunction to stop them from removing her from office. "The five-person board is the investigator, the prosecutor, the judge, the jury, and potentially the executioner in this case."

In the process set up by Measure A, a retired judge holds a hearing and issues a ruling, but the supervisors are not bound by that decision. Even if the judge finds in Corpus's favor, the supervisors could still fire her. Perez says Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller have already shown bias.

"Two out of the five supervisors have already said she's guilty," Perez said. "They are two of the five members of the jury. That is not right."

The I-Team approached the attorney for all five supervisors, Andrew Dawson, more than a week ago, explaining ABC7 News was interviewing Perez and that we wanted his perspective. He sent an email, "I am in court and unavailable on Monday, 7/28. I will get back to you when I am able." He has not.

The response he filed in federal court on behalf of the supervisors says, "Having lost in state court, Plaintiff seeks a do-over here. But that is not a proper basis for federal jurisdiction, and Plaintiff's forum shopping must be rejected."

Dawson also says Corpus "has not exhausted the administrative process," with the supervisors' multi-day hearing before the retired judge starting August 18th.

"I am proud to represent her and be part of the team because there has been a rush to judgment," said Perez.

Perez sees movement in the case -- the county has dropped its most salacious accusation that Sheriff Corpus and her chief of staff had a romantic relationship.

"They threw that one against the wall and it didn't stick because that dog doesn't hunt," Perez said. "And so now and it's well, you shouldn't hire someone that you are close with, that is a close friend. When you win - well, then there should be, elected officials across the country who should be removed from office if they can't hire people they know."

Perez tells us this all began in a battle between the sheriff and the unions over overtime.

"A number of officers were making literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in one year. You have to wonder, is the overtime system working? She was asking those questions. And, you know, apparently some people didn't want those questions to be asked," said Perez.

Public records show one deputy made $480,000 in overtime last year, for a total $823,000 in pay and benefits; others doubled their salary. Another deputy brought home $411,000 pay and benefits, a sergeant $632,000 total. Many of the deputies and higher-ups who supported her opponent in the election still work at the sheriff's department.

Perez told us, "They lost the election in June of 2022, and they've never stopped fighting against her to bring her down. That's not fair."

Perez believes the supervisors should drop their process to remove the sheriff under "Measure A" and allow the civil grand jury's case to play out. That could also result in Corpus leaving office. Perez also points out that the sheriff's detractors could have gone the route of recall, which might have been simpler and perhaps cheaper.