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Gov. Newsom calls out LA City Council members for racist audio leak

2 mins read

Gov. Gavin Newson calls for the resignation of Los Angeles City Council members Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo after a secretly recorded audio recording was leaked. The recorded audio is a conversation between the two men where racist and offensive terms can be heard. 

Newsom made his remarks in front of reporters after he debated with state Sen. Brian Dahle. 

In the leaked audio, de León and Cedillo are conversing with Nury Martinez and Ron Herrera, a local labor leader. Martinez could then be heard making racist remarks about a colleague’s son and members of the local Oaxacan community. 

Aside from derogatory terms, Martinez, de León, Cedillo, and Herrera also spoke about ways to increase their own political gain. 

Martinez resigned from her presidency, but rage over her comments continued, and she ultimately resigned from the council. Herrera resigned the following day after the audio leak. 

Now, Newsom has made it clear that he desires the two remaining council members to resign. 

“I wanted to give them space, but I think I was very clear with Nury, that she did the right thing. And I think the others should do the same,” Newsom said. “I wanted to provide the opportunity for them to justify what they said, and the opportunity to be transparent about what they said. And so we’re hoping and looking forward to announcements soon.”

Newsom had previously condemned the remarks and called the resignation of Martinez as the “right call.”

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