SAN FRANCISCO -- The wife of San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi is expected to testify Wednesday at his misconduct hearing.

KGO-TV says Eliana Lopez returned from her native Venezuela to appear before the city Ethics Commission. The commission is deciding whether to recommend removing Mirkarimi from his post.

Mayor Ed Lee cited Mirkarimi with misconduct and suspended him without pay in March, shortly after the sheriff pleaded guilty to misdemeanor false imprisonment for bruising his wife's arm during a New Year's Eve dispute.

Mirkarimi's wife had refused to cooperate with authorities, calling the mayor's efforts a political witch hunt.

Follow updates on the case Wednesday afternoon