U.S. Rep. David Trone, who is running for Senate, apologized for what he said was the inadvertent use of a racial slur during a budget hearing.
Trone, D-Md., said he confused the word he used with another one as he spoke about tax rates. The congressman, who is the founder of the national Total Wine & More chain, made the comment while saying corporate tax rates didn't influence how he conducted business.
Trone later issued a written statement to apologize.
“While attempting to use the word ‘bugaboo’ in a hearing, I used a phrase that is offensive," he said. "That word has a long dark terrible history. It should never be used any time, anywhere, in any conversation. I recognize that as a white man, I have privilege. And as an elected official, I have a responsibility for the words I use — especially in the heat of the moment. Regardless of what I meant to say, I shouldn’t have used that language.”
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Trone is running for the Democratic nomination in a Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin. He is running against Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who is running to become the state's first Black U.S. senator.
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