The story and audio clips below contain graphic and potentially offensive language. 

Gov. Phil Murphy is calling for the resignation of Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino after WNYC obtained a secret recording of the sheriff making racist remarks about black people and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, the first Sikh in the country to hold such an office. 

The conversation was recorded on Jan. 16, following Murphy's gubernatorial inauguration, which Saudino attended. He is heard telling colleagues what Murphy said in his 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 fuck they want, smoke their marijuana, do this do that, and don't worry about it. You know, we'll tie the hands of cops."

Moments later Saudino gripes that Murphy appointed Grewal solely because of "the turban."

"Without question, the comments made on that recording are appalling, and anyone using racist, homophobic, and hateful language is unfit for public office," the Democratic governor said in a statement. "If indeed that is Sheriff Saudino's voice on the recording, he must resign."

Saudino, who is white and a Democrat, initially did not respond to questions Thursday morning. But he released a statement late in the evening that effectively confirmed the authenticity of the tape without mentioning the possibility of resignation.

Saudino apologized to the "people of Bergen County for the insensitive recorded remarks," saying they "are not representative of the person that I am." He cited his efforts to increase the diversity of the Bergen County Sheriff's Department, indicated he had reached out to "communities I have offended" and pledged to "continue to treat everyone with the respect and dignity that is deserved by all."

As he digs in his heels to keep his job, Saudino, who is up for reelection for a third term as sheriff next year, is under immense pressure from fellow Democrats to immediately resign. Former allies across the county denounced his remarks and demanded he step down, including Grewal, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and State Sen. Loretta Weinberg.

A recording of the conversation between Saudino and staff members was provided to WNYC on Wednesday night by a source in the room who said it took place in a county office building following the inauguration. The recording also included an admission by Saudino that he broke a "rule" involving corrections officers, as well as an inquiry about Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver: "Is she gay? Because she's never been married."

As sheriff, Saudino is in charge of the largest law enforcement agency in the state's most populated county. He leads about 600 employees, and is responsible for assisting municipal police departments, safeguarding the courthouse, patrolling county roads and running the Bergen County Jail.

The racist comments come on the heels of a WNYC report Thursday that showed that the majority of the inmates at the Bergen County Jail are now immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York and held as part of a contract that brings the county about $1.4 million a month.

Unlike those held in four other ICE facilities in the region, the immigrants under Saudino's charge are not allowed to hug their children during visits. The ban on so-called "contact visits" for ICE detainees' friends and relatives is due, at least in part, to the fact that the jail abides by outdated detention standards.

Saudino told WNYC that the policy was intended to protect sheriff’s officers from weapons being smuggled into the facility. He also defended ICE, saying he has an obligation to work with all law enforcement entities and that the agency’s reputation is unfairly besmirched by the media.  

Those in the room who were involved in the recorded conversation included two undersheriffs, according to the source. The source asked to remain anonymous for fear of backlash, particularly against family members.

Saudino's apparent opposition to Murphy's plan to legalize marijuana references black people's use of the drug. But studies have shown that blacks do not smoke marijuana at a higher rate than whites, even though they are far more likely to be arrested for using it.

The remarks about Grewal, who was recently the target of racist comments by New Jersey radio hosts because he wears a turban, came as Saudino discussed whether Murphy had made any Bergen County appointments in his new administration. An undersheriff in the room noted that Grewal is from Bergen County.

"He didn't do that because of Bergen County; he did that because of the turban," Saudino replied.

That statement was particularly disturbing to Grewal because the men knew each other when they held the top two law enforcement positions in the county. Until his appointment by Murphy, Grewal was the lead prosecutor in Bergen County, and the men have been photographed together at several public events through the years.

Grewal said in an interview that the comments are "inconsistent with the Mike Saudino I knew and worked with in Bergen County."

"On a personal level what he said, if it's true and accurate, is disappointing, because I think having worked with him for two years he would know better than most that I have law enforcement credentials," Grewal said. He cited the fact that he's been a prosecutor for most of his career, bringing "new ways of thinking to law enforcement in Bergen County."

"And that's why I got this nomination, not simply because of the symbol of my religion," he said.

Together Saudino and Grewal ran Bergen County’s regional SWAT team and worked on stemming the opioid crisis. In 2016 Saudino and Grewal spoke on a panel about racism and policing called "Communities Working Together."

"You may expect it from people who don't know you, and don't know your credentials, and don't know how hard you work in this space, and what you've done in this space and what you've accomplished...that's the disappointing part it, to hear from someone who knows first-hand what I've done," Grewal said.

Regarding the comments about black people and marijuana, Grewal called them "horrifying" because they undermine efforts to bridge gaps between minority communities and law enforcement.

Saudino is the former police chief of Emerson, a small Bergen County borough that is 87 percent white. He was first elected sheriff as a Republican in 2010, and won reelection to a second, three-year term before changing parties in 2016. He won a third term later that year as a Democrat, and he is up for reelection in 2019. He earns a $130,312 salary as sheriff and another $129,987 annually for his chief's pension, according to the Star-Ledger.

Last month, Saudino told WNYC that with 47 years of law enforcement experience, he is the longest-serving law enforcement officer in the county.

In addition to his comments about Grewal and black people, Saudino made an admission about breaking rules involving "COs," or corrections officers, although the context is unclear. He said: "We've already violated rules by assigning COs as K-9 handlers. You’re really not supposed to be doing that. It’s not part of the job."

As attorney general, Grewal has oversight and investigatory powers over law enforcement agencies, like the sheriff’s office. If Saudino is suspected of breaking rules, the Attorney General's Office could investigate.

The tape also includes a brief discussion about a governmental aide's daughters who sing at county events, with an undersheriff in the room describing them as "cute" and "good looking."

Bergen County has nearly 1 million residents. It is 20 percent Latino and Hispanic, 17 percent Asian and 7 percent black, according to 2017 Census figures.

Saudino's tenure as sheriff was marked by the realignment of Bergen County law enforcement, with the county police department absorbed into the sheriff’s office. This was a key policy change of Jim Tedesco, the county executive and a Democratic ally of Saudino. Tedesco is mentioned in the recording as someone whom Saudino had spoken with at the inaugural.

Tedesco said in a statement: "Having worked with the sheriff for years, I am shocked and disappointed to hear these comments. Bergen County's diversity is our strength and his statements are clearly inconsistent with our values. In the best interest of the public, he should step down." 

Gottheimer, the congressman representing Bergen County, also called for his resignation in a statement: "Like many others, I was surprised and saddened by Sheriff Saudino's unacceptable comments. I know that the Sheriff would never want to do anything to distract from the excellent work of the men and women in law enforcement. I believe it's best that the Sheriff resign. Bergen County needs to have full confidence that its Sheriff represents and protects all of the people, equally under the law."

And Oliver, the lieutenant governor, responded to the sheriff's comments questioning her sexuality: "Obviously the sheriff is a relic of an era gone by. Diversity and inclusion should be top priorities for him as a law enforcement official in a county such as Bergen -- how ignorant."