The filing acknowledges that some recordings captured racially, sexually or otherwise offensive comments Several employees admitted making insensitive remarks but described them to investigators as jokes, banter or conversations among coworkers that were not intended to target applicants or offend colleagues.
One person was captured in a recording “teasing his former partner insensitively about having molested his cousin, a candidate, as well as making jokes regarding his mastery of English and level of sexual experience,” according to the filing.
In another conversation, people were captured referring to “red” “blue” and “purple” rooms as a way to describe political beliefs. An Asian employee “identified another Asian employee jokingly saying it was ‘a yellow room’ due to the number of Asian employees,” the filing reads.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office condemned sexist, homophobic and racist remarks but that California law generally requires all parties to consent to the recording of confidential communications.
“The options are not break the law or do nothing,” Hochman said in a release. “One can address important issues by going through the proper legal channels.”