California mayor's hot mic catches candid exchange after audience sends meeting off rails

A live microphone exposed a behind-the-scenes conversation between Sacramento's mayor and vice mayor as they discussed whether disruptive protesters could be barred from future city council meetings after a heated immigration-related debate descended into chaos.

"We should go over this disruptions thing, because if we want to ban somebody in the future, like to take them out, we have to point out specifically…" Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes is heard saying.

"I know, but the city attorney said we can't do that," Mayor Kevin McCarty replied.

"We did it last time," Talamantes responded.

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"We can't," McCarty said, shaking his head. "I spent my first six months going over this. I wanted to give people, like, probation, like, you can't come…"

Talamantes then appeared to realize the microphone was still live and quickly reached over to switch it off before continuing the conversation, according to the publicly available city council livestream reviewed by Fox News Digital.

The awkward exchange unfolded Tuesday after Sacramento City Council recessed and ordered the public removed from the chambers following repeated disruptions during a fiery debate over the city's continued participation in a regional intelligence-sharing center.

The confrontation escalated after Talamantes defended accepting federal funding for the Central California Intelligence Center, or CCIC, arguing Sacramento's sanctuary city policies and immigrant protections made the city better suited to oversee the grant than other jurisdictions.

"The city of Sacramento is a sanctuary city," Talamantes said during the meeting. "If we don't pass these dollars, other counties will apply for these dollars, they will get those dollars and we will have no safeguards to protect our immigrant communities here in Sacramento."

Dozens of speakers had earlier urged the council to reject the agreement, arguing the intelligence center could facilitate information sharing with federal immigration authorities and undermine Sacramento's sanctuary city policies.

Police officials repeatedly disputed those claims during the meeting, telling council members Sacramento does not share personal identifying information for civil immigration enforcement and complies with California's sanctuary law, known as SB 54. 

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As public comment grew increasingly heated, one speaker repeatedly demanded McCarty pay attention.

"Kevin, I need your f---ing eyes. Kevin, listen to me. Stop being an a--hole, dude. Listen to your f---ing constituents," the speaker shouted.

Following Talamantes' remarks, another round of shouting erupted inside the council chambers.

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"You're a pick-me b----," one attendee shouted at Talamantes, while others yelled, "Shame on you."

McCarty responded with what he described as a "final notice."

"This is the final notice," the mayor said. "We're going to continue with the deliberation, and if there's any more outbursts, we're gonna have to ask the audience to leave."

Seconds later, the disruptions intensified.

"You can't do this behind closed f---ing doors!" one attendee shouted.

"We are the community," another yelled.

"You represent us. You are our f---ing audience," another voice exclaimed as council members attempted to continue the meeting.

Council officials then paused the meeting and cleared the chambers after repeated disruptions prevented deliberations from continuing.

Following the meeting, McCarty said the private conversation focused on existing meeting procedures, not new restrictions.

"Every Tuesday, Vice Mayor Talamantes and I are responsible for overseeing and ensuring transparent, accessible, and open Council meetings," McCarty said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Unfortunately, when meetings are repeatedly disrupted, we must discuss existing policies and rules to ensure Council meetings remain effective, orderly, and respectful for both the residents in attendance and the Councilmembers. We are committed to ensuring that all members of the public can access and engage safely without distraction or intimidation."

The Sacramento City Attorney's Office declined to address McCarty's reference to legal advice during the hot-mic exchange.

"The City Attorney's Office has no comment and will not be providing comment on this matter," the office said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

The city's published meeting rules state that members of the public receive two minutes per agenda item and may speak on no more than four items during a meeting, limits intended to help the council conduct city business.

The hot-mic exchange quickly drew criticism from some activists, who argued Talamantes appeared interested in silencing vocal opponents.

Joshua Masias, a volunteer organizer with the Sac Immigration Committee, told The Sacramento Bee the conversation showed an authoritative approach toward members of the public.

"It's very authoritative how she wants to use her power," Masias told the outlet. "It stuck out to me that she was the only one to try to silence the crowd."

Resident Leanna Hunt, one of the council's most outspoken critics, also defended the protesters' frustration.

"I'm fed up," Hunt told the Bee. "It's not even a tactic — I'm just tired of being treated like we are an audience and that the king is deigning to see us peasants today and when the peasants are unruly, the king gets upset."

Fox News Digital reached out to Vice Mayor Talamantes' office, Sacramento Police Department and the Sac Immigration Committee for additional comment.