Pilot Travel Centers officials issued a statement on Thursday about secret tape recordings of former Pilot president Mark Hazelwood in which he disparaged blacks as well as the city of Cleveland, where Pilot CEO Jimmy Haslam owns the Cleveland Browns.
The statement says, “The tapes described in court today, recorded over five years ago and involving former sales representatives of Pilot Flying J, are saddening and troubling.
“This kind of behavior is not acceptable, tolerated or reflective of the values of the company. No current team member of Pilot Flying J was present or participated in these conversations.”
Hazelwood is on trial in Chattanooga along with Scott Wombold, Karen Mann and Heather Jones for defrauding trucking companies.
Judge Curtis Collier said Thursday afternoon he had decided to allow the jury to hear the "vile" tapes.
The trial does not resume until early January.