After Racist Recording Leaked, Biden Calls For The Resignations Of Three LA City Council Members

President Joe Biden has weighed in on the fate of three Los Angeles City Council members who were recorded making racist remarks, calling for their immediate resignations.

Other members of the Democratic party have done the same, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The 80-minute, profanity-laced conversation was recorded in October 2021 and included three council members -- former President Nury Martinez and Council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León.

Martinez is heard in the recording making racist and anti-Semitic comments, as well as verbal jabs toward other council members. The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera was also present at the meeting addressing city redistricting.

In the recording, Martinez discusses white Council member Mike Bonin's adopted Black son, referring to him as a "parece changuito," translating to "like a monkey." Martinez also referred to Bonin as a "little [expletive]."

Other notable comments made by Martinez in the recording include referring to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón as being "with the Blacks," and saying that Oaxacan populations in the city were "Tan feos" meaning "They're ugly."

The meeting recording was released Sunday on Reddit by an account that has since been deleted. Martinez has resigned from her position as council president but has not resigned from her city council seat.

Martinez, who has served on the Los Angeles City Council since 2013 and became the council's first Latina President in January 2020, said in a statement on Tuesday, "This has been one of the most difficult times of my life, and I recognize this is entirely of my own making."

On Tuesday, Biden called for Martinez, Cedillo, and León to resign. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing the recorded conversation was "appalling." Biden is starting a three-state tour of the west on Wednesday, beginning in Vail, Colorado, before heading to California and Oregon ahead of the November midterms.

The Los Angeles City Council met on Tuesday to address the scandal, with Martinez notably absent. Protesters packed City Hall and were vocal about their anger, calling for formal resignations and chanting "Black Lives Matter Here" in the council chamber.

Bonin made an emotional speech during Tuesday's meeting about his son and the pain he and his family felt following the release of the recording. "These words, they cut, and they stun," Bonin said.

Los Angeles City Council Member for District 8, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, updated his Twitter handle to say "one of the Blacks" -- a quote from Martinez.

It is unclear what will happen next, as the City Council does not have the power to remove members, only censure or suspend members with pending criminal charges against them. Martinez, Cedillo, and León have released formal apologies but have not resigned.