Maryland, My Maryland

At Da Mail, Maryland Senate frontrunner utters racial slur during House meeting - but Democrat pleads his innocence and claims he was trying to say 'bugaboo'

Maryland's Democrat Senate frontrunner Rep. David Trone uttered a racial slur during a House meeting, but claimed he was just trying to say 'bugaboo'. Trone, 68, was talking about Democrat tax policies with Shalanda Young, who is director of the Office of Budget and Management, when he used the offensive term.

The congressman said to Young, who is a black woman: 'So this Republican ji***** that it's the tax rate that’s stopping business investment, it’s just completely faulty by people who have never run a business.' Trone didn't pause or seem to notice what he had said - but he was later forced to apologize, telling Fox News Digital it was a slip of the tongue.

Pleading his innocence, he said: 'Today while attempting to use the word ‘bugaboo’ in a hearing, I used a phrase that is offensive.'

Rep. David Trone was talking about Democrat tax policies when he used the offensive term. The congressman said to Young, who is a black woman: 'So this Republican ji***** that it's the tax rate that’s stopping business investment, it’s just completely faulty by people who have never run a business'

Trone, 68, was talking about Democrat tax policies with Shalanda Young  who is a director of the Office of Budget and Management when he used the offensive term.

A bugaboo means an object of fear - while the word Trone used is a disparaging historic slur for black people.

Trone was speaking with Young as she testified for the committee about tax policy. He did not immediately correct himself following the slur - but was berated online afterwards for his words.

That's just kind of weird. The fact that he slipped it into a floor speech suggests that he uses the word, but it does seem to be in the wrong context here. As far as I'm aware the term "jigaboo" is not in common use in Maryland as a slur. I guess it could just be a senior brain fart.

Trone is the leading Democrat contender for the Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Cardin over Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. It seems quite likely he'll face ex-Gov. Larry Hogan, who, despite being Republican in ultra-blue Maryland, appears to be leading either of the two likely Democrats for the seat, which has the WaPoo in a dither.