NBC 10 I-Team: Secret recordings tied to investigation at Providence City Hall

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — The NBC 10 I-Team has learned Providence officials are looking into a complaint that a city councilor allegedly made a comment viewed as homophobic, and the investigation now includes secret recordings of conversations.

Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia, who represents Ward 6, is the target of that complaint under investigation by the city’s human resources department, according to Mayor Jorge Elorza’s spokesperson.

“There are currently multiple complaints against this individual. While we cannot comment on the content of the most recent complaint, I can confirm that HR is in receipt of recordings,” Patricia Socarras told the I-Team.

Councilman Correia told the I-Team he has heard some of the recordings.

“They are excerpts of conversations between and among myself and others. It is difficult to give them context since they are only random portions of conversations,” Correia told the I-Team, through a statement. “I do believe that these surreptitious recordings are a violation of law and beyond that a grave intrusion of privacy for the hardworking members of the city council staff. They certainly do not deserve that kind of work environment,” he said.

Rhode Island is a one-party consent state, meaning it is legal for one person in a conversation to record it, as long as they are a party to the discussion.

“If however, you are putting a recording down and walking away to see how other people, who are not aware of the recording are speaking, that’s an illegal wire-tap,” said attorney Mark Dana, a legal analyst for NBC 10 News. “Putting myself aside, the employees deserve an investigation so that this issue may be put to rest,” answered Correia, when asked if police should investigate.

It's unclear who was secretly recording and how far back the taping goes. The old days of cassette tapes on hidden recorders are long over, replaced by an appropriately positioned smartphone.

The conversations were not on the floor of the City Council, but presumably in the council’s administrative offices, according to sources, where 14 employees work in addition to the 15 elected city leaders.

Council President Sabina Matos told the I-Team that the human resources investigation is ongoing.

“At this time I cannot confirm the veracity of the complaints or the existence of any recordings. My goal and commitment has been to ensure that the city council staff feel supported and valued and that the council office provides a harassment free workplace,” she said.

Correia did not agree to sit down for an interview with an I-Team reporter, but through his attorney, Artin Coloian, called the accusations against him “hearsay” that are “baseless and untrue.”

Correia was sued last year by the city’s now former Deputy Director of Public Works, Michael McKenna, for allegedly making false and defamatory statements against him. Correia has filed a counter suit.

The secret recordings have not been referred to police.

“At this time, there has been no involvement from Providence Police prompted by any of the involved parties or by the nature of the claims being considered,” said Socarras.