FBI raids offices of Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer
FBI agents raided the offices of Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer on Tuesday.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed to CBS News Bay Area that agents served a search warrant at the County Assessor's Office at 2530 Arnold Drive in Martinez. Two other warrants were served at residences on West Arlington Drive and on Temple Drive in Martinez.
The FBI said the warrants were related to an ongoing investigation.
Kramer has been embroiled in legal controversies over the three decades he has held the office of County Assessor. In 2019, the Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury filed a rare formal accusation of "willful or corrupt misconduct" against Kramer, saying he created a hostile and abusive work environment. Prosecutors said Kramer violated California's Fair Employment and Housing Act by allegedly making unwanted sexual and racially disparaging remarks to employees between 2013 and 2019.
While the case was a civil matter, it was handled in criminal court for the purpose of a trial, since after the grand jury accusation was issued, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office was responsible for serving it on Kramer. The misconduct case ended in a mistrial in 2020 when the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on whether his actions legally constituted a hostile work environment.
Kramer maintained that the allegations were a "witch hunt."
In 2012, Kramer filed a federal lawsuit against the county Board of Supervisors, claiming that they intentionally discriminated against him and reneged on a promised pay raise. The judge dismissed the case.
In 2009, Contra Costa County paid a nearly $1 million settlement by a worker who claimed Kramer retaliated against her after accusing him of sexual harassment.
He has also faced scrutiny over his multiple personal real estate investments in the same county where he sets taxable property values. Public records show Kramer owned shares in dozens of local properties, many of which he initially failed to report on state-mandated economic disclosure forms before submitting 33 subsequent amendments, according to Bay Area News Group.
Kramer is currently serving out the remainder of his eighth term and will officially retire in December 2026.
This is a breaking news update. More information to be added as available.
