New Jersey Sheriff Resigns Over Racist Remarks

A New Jersey sheriff who was recorded making racist remarks about African-Americans and a Sikh attorney general resigned Friday, along with four of his undersheriffs, the North Jersey Record reports. Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino, Executive Undersheriff George Buono, Undersheriff Robert Colaneri, Undersheriff Brian Smith, and Undersheriff Joseph Hornyak all submitted their resignations amid calls for Saudino to step down. Saudino reportedly made the racist remarks while discussing a speech by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “He talked about the whole thing, the marijuana, sanctuary state ... better criminal-justice reform,” Saudino reportedly said. “Christ almighty, in other words let the blacks come in, do whatever ... they want, smoke their marijuana, do this, do that, and don’t worry about it. You know, we’ll tie the hands of cops.” Saudino also said the state’s Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, a Sikh man, only got the job because of “the turban,” according to reports. Saudino apologized for his remarks on Thursday evening. Murphy said the comments were “utterly unacceptable” and “there is no choice as to the step that needs to be taken.”