FBI Raids Embattled Contra Costa Assessor Gus Kramer's Offices, Homes: Report

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — FBI agents raided the Contra Costa County Assessor's Office and two Martinez residences this morning as federal investigators escalated an ongoing probe involving longtime Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer.

Agents served a search warrant at the County Assessor's Office, located at 2530 Arnold Drive in Martinez, according to news reports. Federal agents also executed search warrants at residences on West Arlington Drive and Temple Drive in Martinez, CBS News Bay Area reported.

The FBI told reporters that the searches were connected to an active investigation, but declined to provide additional details.

The federal action places renewed attention on Kramer, who has faced a series of legal controversies during his more than three decades as county assessor.

The county assessor sets property values that serve as the basis for local property taxes.

In 2019, a Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury formally accused Kramer of "willful or corrupt misconduct."

The grand jury investigation focused on claims that Kramer created a hostile and abusive workplace, citing allegations that he made unwanted sexual comments and racially disparaging remarks to employees between 2013 and 2019.

The alleged conduct created a hostile work environment for his employees and was therefore a violation of the Fair Housing and Employment Act, the grand jury found through its investigation.

The accusation was pursued through criminal court procedures because the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office was responsible for serving the grand jury complaint, according to county officials.

The case ended in a mistrial in 2020 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict on whether Kramer's conduct legally constituted a hostile work environment. Kramer denied the allegations and characterized the case as a "witch hunt," according to CBS News.

Kramer has also faced scrutiny over his personal real estate investments in Contra Costa County, where he has overseen property assessments that determine taxable values for 32 years.

Kramer owned interests in dozens of local properties and initially failed to disclose many of those holdings on required state economic-interest filings, the Bay Area News Group reported. He later submitted 33 amended disclosure statements. Kramer announced his retirement in December this year after serving eight terms.

The FBI has not announced any charges related to Tuesday's searches, and investigators have not disclosed the focus of the ongoing investigation, according to reports.