Awkward: CT Mayor Makes 'Taco' Comment During Press Conference About Latino Harassment

While trying to answer a question about Latino harassment in East Haven, CT, Mayor Joe Maturo stumbled into some odd territory with a comment about "tacos" and then proceeded to make things much worse for himself.

Wait a minute. What was he being asked about?

East Haven has been in the news recently because four of its police officers have been accused of harassing the Latino community.

According to the charges filed against the officers, members of the Latino community were detained with little or no reason, then slapped and kicked while in handcuffs, reports Newser. A priest who tried to alert authorities was himself harassed, and store security videos that captured the cops were destroyed, reports the New York Times.

But despite their alleged attempts to cover-up their behavior, word of police intimidation got out and the Justice Department began an investigation.

“Sgt. John Miller and three of his officers—known as ‘Miller's Boys’—have been hit with several charges, including conspiracy, false arrest, excessive force, and obstruction of justice for years of mistreatment of residents, according to the indictment,” write Mary Papenfuss of Newser.

“An FBI spokesman said the cops were a ‘cancerous cadre that routinely deprived East Haven residents of their civil rights.’”

And this is what lead up to the Mayor's "taco" comments.

In light of the ongoing police scandal, and the understandable tension it has created between East Haven leadership and the Latino community, WPIX reporter Mario Diaz asked the Mayor what he planned to do for the Latino community [today].

“I might have tacos when I go home, I’m not quite sure yet,” Maturo responded.

What?

See the interview via WPIX [note: if you turn the volume up, you can actually hear the sound of the Mayor digging himself into a hole]:

Few words can properly describe the Mayor's desperate backpedaling (although the word “flounder” comes to mind).

Maturo even tried to defend his comments by saying: "When you ask me what I would do for Latinos, I may go out and have a Latino dinner in the Latino community. There's nothing wrong with that and you can twist it and turn it whichever way the press decides to do."

He later apologized, saying it was his 12th or 13th interview of the day, according to WPIX. He said he meant no harm by what he called a "flippant" remark.

"If it harmed anybody or hurt anybody, I apologize," Maturo said. "Yeah, it's probably a little insensitive, but it was late in the day."

And as for the police scandal that lead to this interview: all accused officers have pleaded not guilty.

Sgt. John Miller’s lawyer said that "nothing in the indictment is a surprise," adding that his client would be vindicated, according to Newser.