UPDATE: Saudino, and several of his staffers, resigned Friday afternoon

--

Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday that Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino should immediately resign if, in fact, he was caught on tape making racist remarks about African-Americans and New Jersey's Sikh attorney general.

According to a report from WNYC, which said the station was provided with the recording, Saudino is heard talking to colleagues on the day Murphy was inaugurated.

Saudino, recounting the details of Murphy's Jan. 16 inaugural address, said: "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 f--k they want, smoke their marijuana, do this do that, and don't worry about it. You know, we'll tie the hands of cops," according to the report.

Saudino also griped that Murphy, a fellow Democrat, appointed state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal solely because of "the turban," according to the report.

Grewal is the first Sikh in American history to serve as a state attorney general.

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

Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino.

When asked about the recording Thursday during at a public event in Atlantic City, Murphy said: Murphy repeated that Saudino should resign "if that is indeed his voice." Murphy said the remarks are "utterly unacceptable."

"It is inconsistent not just with our values but New Jersey values and American values, and there's no choice as to what the next step needs to be," Murphy added.

The governor doesn't have the authority to remove Saudino from office.

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

He's up for re-election in November 2019, according to the sheriff's website.

Saudino pulls in $130,312 a year from his sheriff's salary and collects a $129,987 annual public pension from his time as Emerson Borough police chief, according to public records.

He's is in charge of about 600 employees and officers.

Saudino did not respond to the radio station's requests for comment or a request from NJ Advance Media.

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

The sheriff also questioned whether Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who is unmarried, is gay, according to the report.

Grewal, who was the Bergen County prosecutor prior to being tapped by Murphy to serve as attorney general, told WNYC the comments are "inconsistent with the Mike Saudino I knew and worked with in Bergen County."

By Thursday afternoon, the attorney general said he had "listened to the recording obtained by WNYC.

Grewal added: "If that is in fact Sheriff Saudino's voice, then he should resign immediately."

"I have thick skin and I've been called far worse," his statement continued. "But the comments about the African-American community are wrong, racist, and hurtful. The comments about our Lieutenant Governor are inappropriate and homophobic. New Jersey and Bergen County deserve better."

It wouldn't be the first time Grewal was attacked over his religion.

In July, a pair of New Jersey radio hosts on 101.5FM were condemned by Murphy and others after the two repeatedly referred to Grewal as "turban man."

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

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.