LISTEN: Maine Governor Under Fire After Leaving Profanity-Laced Voicemail

AUGUSTA, ME — Maine Gov. Paul LePage is under fire after leaving a profanity-laced voicemail for a rival lawmaker, calling him an obscene term unfit for publication. LePage, a Republican, now faces calls for his resignation.

The Portland Press Herald on Thursday first published audio of the voicemail, which was left for State Rep. Drew Gattine, a Democrat in Westbrook. LePage was upset and claimed Gattine insinuated he's racist.

"I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you c---------," LePage said in the voicemail, according to the Press Herald. "I want you to prove that I'm a racist. I've spent my life helping black people and you little son-of-a-b----, socialist c---------."

LePage continued, "I want you to record this and make it public because I'm after you."

Listen to audio of the call here:

LePage called a news conference Friday and apologized.

"I would like to apologize to the people of the state of Maine for having heard the voicemail I left," LePage said.

High-ranking Maine Democrats called for LePage to resign.

"Paul LePage is not mentally or emotionally fit to hold office," Assistant House Democratic Leader Sara Gideon, a Democrat in Freeport, said in a statement. "His words and actions have crossed a line."

LePage said he will not resign.

On Wednesday, LePage held a town hall in North Berwick and said he keeps a three-ring binder of suspects accused of dealing drugs in the state.

“I will tell you, that 90-plus percent of those pictures in my book ... are black and Hispanic people from Waterbury, Connecticut, the Bronx and Brooklyn,” LePage said, according to WCSH6.

Photo: Paul LePage. (Credit: Maine Governor's Office)