Mary Ann Lisanti, a Democratic delegate representing suburban Baltimore, had a cavalier attitude when confronted by a Washington Post reporter over accusations the white Democrat called Prince George’s County, Maryland a “n—-r district” during a drunken night out.
Lisanti, a rising star in Maryland politics, conceded she didn’t remember much from that night – after acknowledging that she had almost certainly used the racial slur before, telling the Post, “I’m sure I have [used it] . . . I’m sure everyone has used it. I’ve used the f-word. I used the Lord’s name in vain.”
Law & Crime’s Matt Naham has more:
The controversy apparently boiled over on Monday night, when fellow lawmakers reportedly “confronted” Lisanti. Darryl Barnes, a Democratic delegate from Prince George’s County, is the chairman of Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus, and he said Lisanti “apologized several times.”
What Barnes said next was reminiscent of the recent events involving Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam‘s blackface scandal. Barnes said that Lisanti “hoped to repent from this.”
The difference between the two incidents seems pretty clear-cut, however. One involved a yearbook photo from decades ago, the other involves slurs uttered as recently as January 2019 among colleagues. Another difference is that, unlike in the Northam case, it does not appear that local lawmakers are calling on Lisanti to resign.
Fellow Democrats referred to her words as “disheartening and frustrating,” or “disturbing and offensive.” Prince George’s County Del. Jay Walker (D), who is black, was reportedly at the cigar bar when Lisanti allegedly used a slur directed at his constituents. Even he said that this was “something I had to handle inside the locker room.”
Lisanti has not responded to further calls for comment.
AAN Staff
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