Laurie Smith, the Santa Clara County Sheriff accused of corruption by a civil grand jury and whose office is under a state civil rights investigation, will not run for re-election this year.
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Smith announced in an email to staff on Thursday that she will retire at the end of her term in January. The 69-year-old wrote that "it would be unfair to the voters of Santa Clara County to force them to make a decision in the middle of a drama not of their making," seemingly referring to the seven corruption charges she faces and California Attorney General Rob Bonta's probe into misconduct and resistance to oversight in county jails.
"The truth and evidence is absolutely clear," Smith wrote to her colleagues. "I have always served the people of Santa Clara County and have never engaged in any behavior that would warrant the media animus, false legal narrative, or political attacks currently in the public domain."
Smith labeled the "attacks" she has faced "specious attempts by unsavory political opponents in retribution for serving the public with honor."
The first female sheriff in California's history, Smith was first elected to the role in 1998. Smith won re-election five times, garnering nearly 56% of the vote in 2018.
She announced Thursday the sixth term would be her last following a series of controversies during it.
The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury in December formally accused Smith of seven corruption-related charges for her office's role in a quid pro quo scheme in which two commanders sought political donations for concealed carry permits, as well as its part in undermining an internal investigation into a mentally ill man's injury sustained in sheriff's custody that netted a $10 million settlement.
If the allegations went to trial, Smith would have to be removed from office if she was convicted of a single count.
In January, Bonta announced his office would investigate potential patterns of unconstitutional and unlawful conduct in Smith's office.
Smith faced scrutiny from other Santa Clara County elected officials before December. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo called on Smith to resign in August, and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors issued a vote of no confidence about two weeks later.
Through it all, Smith refused to resign and maintained her innocence. She blamed a lack of staffing and mental health services for the county jail scandals, and she argued in court earlier this month that four of the seven corruption charges she faced should be dismissed.
"Let the facts come out, let history record the result and let us continue to focus on providing the highest level of public safety service," she wrote.
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