The Los Angeles City Council remains in turmoil over a disgraced lawmaker who has refused to resign – despite calls from high-ranking fellow Democrats including President Joe Biden –  after an audio recording surfaced of his involvement in a racist discussion.

The Associated Press reports that the council voted 12-2 Wednesday (Jan. 11) in favor of a proposal to explore further punitive actions against censured Councilman Kevin de León, who continues to collect his nearly $229,000 salary. Restricting his use of certain office funds is among the possible penalties on the table.

In October, furious residents packed the council’s chamber to demand the resignation of then-council President Nury Martinez, then-Councilman Gil Cedillo and de León after The Los Angeles Times reported the secretly recorded private discussion in October 2021.

On the recording, the three lawmakers and labor leader Ron Herrera, all Latino Democrats, plotted to manipulate the city’s redistricting process at the expense of Black voters. Racist slurs were used, including referring to a Black child as a little monkey.

When the scandal broke in October, the council immediately censured the three lawmakers, and de León was stripped of his committee assignments.

Council President Paul Krekorian said city law is unclear about what steps the council could take when a member breaches ethical standards unconnected to a crime, according to the AP. The proposal approved Wednesday by council members invites city officials, including the city attorney, to weigh in “so this council can decide what options are available.”

De León said the proposal to further sanction him is “deeply troubling” and would relegate his constituents to “second-class status,” according to the AP.

But Krekorian said none of the possible punishments would affect funding or services for de León’s district.

Shortly after the scandal, Martinez resigned but Cedillo stayed in office until his term ended in December. The council doesn’t have the legal authority to remove de León from office, but he faces a possible recall election.

Local station KABC reported in December that the Los Angeles city clerk approved a recall petition against de León. Organizers have until March 31 to collect 20,437 signatures of registered voters in his district. The embattled lawmaker’s term in office ends in 2024.