Murphy says Bergen County Sheriff must resign for his appalling racist remarks



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Governor Phil Murphy said Wednesday that Bergen County Sheriff, Michael Saudino, should resign immediately if, in fact, he had been caught making racist remarks about African-Americans and the Sikh Attorney General of Japan. 39; State.

According to a WNYC report, which indicated that the station had received the recording, Saudino is heard talking to colleagues on the day of Murphy's inauguration.

Saudino, recounting the details of Murphy's inaugural speech on January 16, said: "He talked about everything, marijuana, the state of the sanctuary … better reform of the criminal justice system. other words the kids they want, smoke their marijuana, do that, and do not worry about that, you know, we'll tie the hands of the cops, "the report said.

Saudino also criticized the fact that Murphy appointed the state attorney general, Gurbir Grewal, solely for "the turban," according to the report.

Grewal is the first American Sikh to have been Attorney General.

"Undoubtedly, the comments made on this recording are appalling and anyone who uses racist, homophobic and hate speech is unfit to perform a public function," Murphy said in a statement. "If it's Sheriff Saudino's voice on the recording, he has to resign."

Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino.

Asked about recording Thursday at a public event in Atlantic City, Murphy said, "If that's actually his voice," Saudino is expected to resign. Murphy said these remarks were "totally unacceptable".

"This is not consistent not only with our values, but also with New Jersey values ​​and American values, and there is no other choice as to the next step," Murphy added.

The governor does not have the power to remove Saudino from his office.

The sheriff was elected in 2016 for his third term. He changed party for his third term. Saudino ran as a Republican for his first two terms as sheriff.

Saudino earns $ 130,312 a year from his sheriff's salary and receives an annual public pension of $ 129,987 from his tenure as chief of police in Emerson District, according to public records.

He is responsible for about 600 employees and officers.

Saudino has not responded to requests for comments from the radio station or to a request from NJ Advance Media.

According to the WNYC, the recording of the conversation between Saudino and staff members was provided to the station on Wednesday night by a source in the room who said the conversation had taken place in a county office building after the inauguration.

The sheriff also asked if lieutenant governor Sheila Oliver, who is single, is gay, according to the report.

Grewal, who was the Bergen County Attorney before being exploited by Murphy to serve as Attorney General, told WNYC that the comments were "inconsistent with the Mike Saudino I knew and with whom I was Worked in Bergen County. "

It would not be the first time Grewal was attacked for his religion.

In July, two New Jersey radio hosts were sentenced by Murphy and others after the two men repeatedly referred to Grewal as a "turban man".

NJ Advance Media Staff Brent Johnson and Samantha Marcus contributed to this report.

Matt Arco can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.

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