May 8, 2020

Listen: NJ City Councilwoman Says Sorry, but Won't Step Down, After Homophobic Tirade

READ TIME: 3 MIN.

The Trenton, NJ city council member who prompted national headlines when she accused the city's openly gay mayor of being a "pedophile" during a 10-minute tirade that erupted during an official conference call has issued an apology - but insists she is not going anywhere, despite calls for her resignation, media outlets report.

As previously reported at EDGE Trenton, NJ Councilwoman Robin Vaughn flew into a rancorous, anti-LGBTQ diatribe directed at the city's openly gay mayor and also at another council member during a conference call, only for her comments – which were recorded – to be released to the public.

Vaughn's jeremiad included slurs directed at openly gay mayor Mayor Reed Gusciora, whom she called, without grounds, a "pedophile" and "bitch ass," reported local news outlet NJ.com.

Vaughn also directed abusive language at fellow council member Joe Harrison when he attempted to intervene. Media reports say that Vaughn can be heard in the recording telling Harrison, "Continue to suck Reed Gusciora's dick all you want to, motherfucker."

The recording of the conference call appeared at Twitter as well as being embedded in a local newspaper's article. On the recording, Mayor Gusciora can be heard responding to Vaughn's criticism about "do-nothing nonprofits" receiving funding by asking the councilwoman to "list one." Vaughn replies, "Oh, I have the list, Mayor."

But at about the 23-minute mark - after the two have sparred for several minutes, with the mayor calling Vaughn "Radioactive," "a child," and "an idiot," the list that erupts is one of personal attacks and anti-LGBTQ animosity.

It's at that point that Vaughn accused the mayor of being a "drug addict" and a "pedophile," telling him he needs to "get the fuck out of office and get the fuck out of Trenton."

Another council member can be heard interjecting, "Are you kidding me? There she goes again," as Vaughn's tirade goes on and the councilwoman alleges that the mayor has "young boys" paying him visits.

Those unfounded allegations led to hateful trolling against the mayor, r,link|https://www.trentonian.com/robin-vaughn-apologizes-for-homophobic-rant-against-mayor-reed-gusciora/article_007a8d20-8ff7-11ea-a2f5-37141d424862.html|eported The Trentonian>.

Gusciora has forwarded hateful and threatening comments sparked by Vaughn's allegations over to the authorities, the Trentonian noted.

The mayor offered an apology for the slurs he hurled at Vaughn, but noted the difference between his invective - using words such as "child," "idiot," and "asshole" - and the highly inflammatory suggestion that he is a pedophile.

Vaughn had also attacked the parents of fellow councilman Harrison.

Vaughn offered no apology that seemed directed at the mayor, but instead offered a general mea culpa in a Twitter post.

"I apologize. That must be the first thing you hear from me," Vaughn posted.

Vaughn's post went on to add: "I am deeply and specifically sorry for the language that has offended so many. It was also not my intent to attack anyone on the basis of any classification or personal preferences, but I should have been more sensitive to the potential implication of my words and how they might be perceived."

Officials, equality advocacy groups, and some constituents had called for Vaughn's resignation, but the councilwoman let it be known she has no intention of stepping down. Some constituents are mulling a recall petition against Vaughn, The Trentonian reported.

Meantime, the acrimony has not exactly cooled. Vaughn is now pursuing a censure complaint against Harrison, The Trentonian reported and is in the process of "prepar[ing] a transcript" that she contends will serve as a defense.

Listen to the recording of the fractious phone conference below.

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