New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is calling for the resignation of the Bergen County sheriff after a New York City radio station obtained a recording of the law enforcement official making racist remarks about African Americans and marijuana.
"If indeed that is Sheriff [Michael] Saudino's voice on the recording, he must resign," said Murphy in a statement.
The secret recording, which was first made public by WNYC, documents Saudino telling colleagues on Jan. 16 about the governor's inauguration speech.
"He talked about the whole thing, the marijuana, sanctuary state... better criminal justice reform. Christ almighty, in other words let the blacks come in, do whatever the f-- they want, smoke their marijuana, do this, do that, and don't worry about it. You know, we'll tie the hands of cops," said Saudino, whose county is the state's most populous.
Saudino, who is a white Democrat, also trash-talked about the then newly-appointed state Attorney General, Gubir Grewal. The sheriff said Murphy named Grewal the state's chief law enforcement official because of "the turban," reported WNYC's Matt Katz, a former Inquirer staffer.
Grewal, the New Jersey-born son of Indian immigrants, is a Sikh. Most male Sikhs wear a turban.
"Without question, the comments made on that recording are appalling, and anyone using racist, homophobic, and hateful language is unfit for public office," Murphy told WNYC in a statement.
(c)2018 The Philadelphia Inquirer
