Nury Martinez resigns from LA City Council following President Biden’s comments

In the latest update in the Los Angeles City Council scandal involving audio recordings that revealed several Council officials making racist comments, Councilwoman Nury Martinez announced her resignation on Wednesday just hours after President Biden publicly urged those involved to step down.

It is not clear whether the president’s message had any bearing on Martinez’s decision, but her resignation came less than a day after remarks by the White House indicating everyone in the audio recordings should resign. 

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about the president’s thoughts on the situation in Los Angeles, and responded, “I spoke to him about it yesterday,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a White House briefing. “The president is glad to see one of the participants in that conversation has resigned, but they all should. He believes that they all should resign.”

Martinez, who was caught on the audio saying disparaging things about politicians who fought for Black constituents as well as her own colleagues, issued a resignation message.

“It is with a broken heart that I resign my seat for Council District 6, the community I grew up in and my home,” she wrote. “I hope you stay engaged and continue to fight for your fair share of the city’s resources,”

She added, “It’s hard to say goodbye, but please know that I was in this fight for you.”

The White House reiterated its position on Wednesday, with Jean-Pierre telling reporters, “I want to be very, very explicit about this as I was yesterday: Racism has no place in our society and particularly no place coming from our elected — elected officials and elected leaders, in this case. These council members should all resign. The President is clear about this.”