As Democratic Senate candidate Rep. David Trone, D-Md., is facing criticism for using a racial slur, his Democratic primary opponent Angela Alsobrooks used the opportunity to highlight endorsements she received from some of his fellow Democratic colleagues in Congress.

Last week, Trone, who is running for U.S. Senate in Maryland, said during a House Budget Committee hearing, “This Republican jigaboo that … it’s a tax rate that’s stopping business investment is just completely faulty by people who never run a business.” 

The Maryland congressman made the remark, directed toward Republicans, while questioning White House Office of Budget and Management Director Shalanda Young, who is Black.

Following the word usage, Democratic Senate candidate Alsobrooks, who currently serves as Prince George’s County executive, issued a press release illustrating public support from Congressional Black Caucus members Reps. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio.

Crockett told theGrio that she endorsed Alsobrooks long before the Trone controversy. 

“She has a proven record of being able to govern,” declared Crockett. The Texas freshman congresswoman added, “When we look at places that provide an opportunity to make sure that women and people of color are at the table, Maryland is one of the places in which opportunity exists.”

In a statement obtained by theGrio, Alsobrooks said she was “grateful” to receive the support of some CBC members.

“These public servants know how important it is to have partners in the Senate who understand the challenges people face and are committed to working on real solutions,” she added.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary on May 14 will face the Republican nominee, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, for the open U.S. Senate seat being left vacated by retiring Senator Ben Cardin. According to the Washington Post-University of Maryland Survey, Hogan has a significant lead in public opinion against Trone and Alsobrooks. In a hypothetical Nov. 5 general election matchup, the Republican candidate leads Trone by 12% and Alsobrooks by 14%.

Though Alsobrooks did not directly name Trone or his comment in her press release highlighting the short list of endorsements, it came just days after.

“It was disappointing to hear that language,” Crockett told theGrio. “But, I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to David one-on-one to see what was happening in the moment.”

Svante Myrick, president of People For the American Way, told theGrio it was very “shocking” to hear Rep. Trone use the racial term.

“It’s a very old-school slur that you hope to never hear again … much less in 2024 from an elected official,” he said.

Trone later apologized for his comment and clarified that he meant to say “bugaboo.” The Maryland congressman said, “I misspoke and mistakenly used a phrase that is offensive.”

He continued, “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.”

Jigaboo is a derogatory term that was used against Black Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Merriam-Webster defines the word as “an insulting and contemptuous term for a Black person.”

A spokesperson for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told theGrio, “Rep. David Trone has apologized for inadvertently using a racial inflammatory phrase to describe Republicans in a hearing.”

“That’s the right thing to do,” said the spokesperson. Jeffries endorsed Trone in his primary contest against Alsobrooks.

Myrick of People For the American Way said that he gives Trone “credit for owning it, apologizing for it, and seeking to learn from it.”

Though Trone apologized, Myrick said words like that have no place on the House floor and that lawmakers should use “a more civil tone inside the chambers.”

The former mayor of Ithaca pointed to the late Congresswoman Shirly Chisholm, D-N.Y., adding, “There have been so many legislators who have been able to go to work and represent their constituents without that kind of grandstanding.”

“It creates a toxic environment when lawmakers use name-calling like we see here,” said Myrick.

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Actress Halle Berry is out to educate people on the reality of perimenopause, and she’s doing so by sharing a very personal story about a terrifying misdiagnosis of her own.

The “Die Another Day” star recently sat down with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in Los Angeles at ​​the A Day of Unreasonable Conversation summit— bringing television writers and producers together with those working to impact social change on conversations around politics, race, education, and health – in an effort to ensure more authentic storylines. During the event, Berry opened up about a visit with her gynecologist that she will never forget.

The actress went to her gynecologist after experiencing severe pain she described as feeling like “razor blades in my vagina.” And after a series of tests, he told her she had herpes.

“He said, ‘You messed up again. You have the worst case of herpes I have ever seen,’” Berry said.

Knowing that she and her partner, R&B singer, Van Hunt, had been tested, the news knocked Berry off her feet. Fortunately, she was eventually able to confirm that what she was experiencing wasn’t herpes, but perimenopause—the period of transition from a woman’s reproductive years to menopause.

According to Johns Hopkins, perimenopause can last between two and 10 years until a woman’s final period. During that time, women can experience a variety of symptoms, including mood changes, night sweats, headaches and joint pain.

After that terrifying doctor’s visit, Berry decided to use her platform to educate others. But while her story is both terrifying and frustrating, Berry isn’t alone. Women and people of color are between 20 and 30 percent more likely than white men to be misdiagnosed by their doctors, according to Dr. David Newman-Toker, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Berry said she hopes sharing her story will change “the way women and men feel about women during their midlife and how they feel about this — which used to be a dirty little word — menopause, perimenopause, and we in this room have to change that… it can’t just be the doom and gloom story. This is a glorious time of life.”

The iconic duo of Miami PD detectives, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, portrayed by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, are gearing up for another adrenaline-fueled adventure in the upcoming installment of the beloved Bad Boys franchise. Sony Pictures has just dropped a tantalizing new trailer for the film, titled “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” promising fans a rollercoaster ride of action, humor, and gripping drama.

In the latest trailer, which has already set social media abuzz, viewers are plunged into a high-stakes narrative as Lowrey and Burnett find themselves embroiled in a mission to clear the name of their late police captain, who stands accused of corruption and collusion with the cartel. However, the unexpected twist comes when the duo themselves are forced to tread the line between law enforcement and criminality, adding a thrilling layer of complexity to the plot.

True to the spirit of the franchise, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is packed with gritty shootouts, pulse-pounding chase sequences, and the trademark humor that fans have come to love. Smith and Lawrence effortlessly reprise their roles, delivering the perfect blend of camaraderie and witty banter that has made the Bad Boys series a fan favorite for decades.

Following the massive success of 2020’s “Bad Boys For Life,” which grossed over $426.5 million worldwide despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, anticipation for the fourth installment has been sky-high. The announcement of the film’s subtitle, coupled with the release of today’s trailer, has only intensified excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Bad Boys saga.

Directed once again by the dynamic duo of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who helmed the critically acclaimed “Bad Boys For Life,” “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” promises to deliver another adrenaline-soaked thrill ride that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. El Arbi and Fallah’s track record of blending heart-pounding action with compelling storytelling makes them the perfect choice to bring Lowrey and Burnett’s latest escapade to life on the big screen.

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She has accolades aplenty as an actress, but Uzo Aduba’s most significant accomplishment came four months ago when she gave birth to her daughter.

During a conversation with People about her collaboration with Colgate on its “My Smile is My Superpower” campaign, the “Orange Is the New Black” dynamo — who welcomed her daughter, Adaiba, with husband Robert Sweeting in November — shared her experiences as a new mother and underlined the significance of instilling confidence and self-love in her daughter.

“It’s truly just amazing,” Aduba said of becoming a mom. “It’s the role of a lifetime. It is certainly one of the most thrilling parts I’ve ever played, being a mother.”

The “Painkiller” star said the experience has taught her “so much about myself” and how she wants to exist in the world.

“It’s made me stronger, but it has also shown me how strong I am at the same time,” she added. “It really is the greatest gift that I’ve ever experienced.”

Colgate’s “My Smile is My Superpower” campaign aims to remind people everywhere — including Aduba’s newborn daughter — that the most beautiful smile is their own. As part of the campaign, Colgate is releasing an original music video titled “The Beauty of Gaps,” which celebrates various smiles.

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The actress said she’s thrilled to be a “mother who works” and expressed her excitement about providing her daughter with “examples of strong working women.”

While she loves her days as a new mom, Aduba noted that parenthood comes with daily challenges — and she has to remind herself she’s doing a great job.

“I think the number one thing that I say, both to myself and to other women, soon-to-be moms, current moms is, ‘You’re doing great,’” she told People. “It’s a full-time and a hard job. I tell anybody who is doing it, ‘You’re doing great, just right where you are. I never say, ‘Keep it up. You’re so strong.’ Nothing like that. You’re doing great because you’re just trying to pour into it the most and the best that you have. Full stop.”

“And as long as my best efforts are the intention, then that’s really all you can ask of yourself,” Aduba added. “That’s all I try to demand of myself in those situations.”

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As Diddy’s shocking home raids, numerous lawsuits and legal issues continue to play out in the court of public opinion, there’s one surprising name that’s now been thrown into the chaos: Prince Harry.

The Duke of Sussex was reportedly named in court documents associated with the most recent lawsuit lobbed against Diddy by one of his former producers Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones. While Rodney did not accuse Harry of any wrongdoing specifically, he was mentioned as an example of the level of celebrity Diddy—and subsequently those who were “participating in and facilitating Combs’ sex trafficking venture”—would have access to in return for their cooperation.

“Mr Combs was known for throwing the ‘best’ parties. Affiliation with, and or sponsorship of Mr Combs’ sex-trafficking parties garnered legitimacy and access to celebrities such as famous athletes, political figures, artists, musicians and international dignitaries like British royal, Prince Harry,” stated Rodney in documents obtained by The Daily Beast. 

As previously reported by The Root, Jones is accusing Diddy of sexual harassment, threatening and drugging him and “engaging in serious illegal activity.”

While the extent of Prince Harry and Diddy’s relationship is unknown, it’s well known that both he and his brother Prince William met the Bad Boy producer and the rapper formerly known as Kanye West back in 2007. The four of them were pictured together at an after-concert party they hosted following their “Concert for Diana” at Wembley Stadium, to celebrate the life of their mother, Princess Diana.

Aside from that, just the mere mention of Prince Harry’s name in association with someone like Diddy amid all the current royal family drama and Harry and Meghan’s own litany of arguable issues isn’t a good look. Then, when you consider Spotify dropping Meghan Markle’s podcast “Archetypes” and their overall deal in general getting axed (to be fair, “Archetypes” did find a new home in Lemonade Media where she’s set to launch an additional new show); Prince Harry’s book “Spare” becoming a best-seller and causing a deeper divide both socially and with members of his own family; the couple’s un-lucrative $100 million deal with Netflix that allegedly hasn’t seen that big of a return on investment—it may be time for Harry and Meghan to consider if it’s time to go back to London and revamp their plans three, five and 10-year business and life plan.

The name drop of Harry in association with Diddy comes less than 24 hours after Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were both raided by Homeland Security agents. Though the specifics of the raids remain unclear, they are both allegedly connected to a federal sex trafficking investigation.

In a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security, it explained: “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners. We will provide further information as it becomes available.’’

Global artist Shakira surprised her fans on Monday by collaborating with Grupo Frontera to release the music video for “Entre Parentesis,” one of the songs from her most recent album “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.”

The music video shows Grupo Frontera members joining Shakira in a riveting performance staged inside a mechanic shop. The video, interspersed with footage of the “Acróstico” vocalist mimicking Selena Quintanilla’s legendary dance movements in front of a live audience, serves as a dynamic visual companion to the song’s strong lyrics.

In a poignant duet with Grupo Frontera vocalist Payo Solis, Shakira delivers emotive lines such as, “You can tell when someone loves you, but when someone doesn’t, you can tell even more. Before, you’d show up without calling, now you leave without a warning.”

“Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” marks Shakira’s long-awaited return to the music arena and her first album release in seven years. The album has received notice for its broad spectrum of tunes, including the opening single “Puntería,” featuring Cardi B, which was celebrated with an unusual music video published last Friday.

In addition to “Entre Parentesis,” the album includes collaborations with well-known musicians including Karol G on “TQG,” a compelling Bizarrap Music Session, and the lively single “El Jefe” with Fuerza Regida.

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Karen Pittman is saying goodbye to the world of Carrie Bradshaw. 

The 37-year-old actress is leaving the cast of HBO Max’s “And Just Like That” ahead of Season Three. Pittman starred as Dr. Nya Wallace, a college professor at Columbia Law School, on the “Sex and the City” revival series, where her character navigated a breakup and her newfound freedom as a single woman.  

HBO Max announced the news in a statement to Variety.

“It has been a joy to have Karen Pittman play the smart and stunning Professor Nya Wallace on the first two seasons of ‘And Just Like That,’” a Max spokesperson told the publication. “As we have thoroughly enjoyed working with this dynamic actress, so too have others. Due to her commitments to two other streamer series, it has become apparent that filming three shows at once isn’t possible.”

The statement to Variety went on to say that “we are disappointed to announce that scheduling conflicts will not allow us to continue with this character as part of Season 3 of ‘And Just Like That.’ Karen and Nya will be missed, and her Max family and fans will all be cheering her on in her other endeavors.” 

Pittman’s other acting commitments include her lead role on “The Morning Show,” where she stars in the Apple TV+ series as television producer Mia Jordan, and her upcoming role in Netflix’s “Forever,” a Mara Brock Akil adaptation of Judy Blume’s novel. 

Pittman has yet to comment on her departure from “And Just Like That,” but fans were quick to react to the news on social media, calling out HBO Max for underutilizing the actress. 

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“Her character deserved so much more than how she was so lazily approached,” one fan wrote on X (Twitter). “I hope to see Karen Pittman on a show where she can really shine. — #AndJustLikeThat has at least THREE characters they forced in the show just to try to fill Samantha’s place and it still fell short.”

“I hope that Karen Pittman’s exit from And Just Like That means that she’s booked and busy,” another fan wrote. “What a talented actress.”

“This is a true loss. But, tbh, they weren’t fully actualizing her character anyway. #andjustlikethat,” a fan commented on X. 

Pittman’s departure from “And Just Like That” follows actor Sara Ramírez’s exit from the series. The “Grey’s Anatomy” alum announced in February that she would not be returning to the show, Variety reported. 

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The Jonathan Majors saga that has (kinda) gripped the nation for almost a year is stretching out longer than expected: His domestic violence sentencing was pushed to April 8 from Feb. 6 as his lawyers continue to work to get the guilty verdict overturned.

A couple days following the postponement, the New York Times released a story in which two other women accused Majors of physical and emotional abuse. That, combined with a terribly timed ABC interview about the issue, could prove detrimental to what most people believed would be a sentence that doesn’t involve jail time.

Alas, Majors’ career as he knew it is toast: He lost his lucrative Marvel gig, his film “Magazine Dreams” was dropped from a release schedule and a U.S. Army commercial featuring him was shelved very quickly following his March 2023 arrest. However, there could be a glimmer of hope, as Majors was seen last weekend allegedly bulking up for a new role.

It got us wondering about how the careers of other Black celebrities accused of or charged with domestic violence or sexual abuse have fared following their allegations or convictions. Spoiler alert: You’ll might be a little surprised – or not – at how easily some of these men have had it…

Diddy

Before Cassie blew everything to pieces, Diddy was a borderline billionaire who had the world at his feet and more famous friends than we could list in this piece.

His reputation is now in the toilet and the hits keep on coming: He fielded a sexual harassment lawsuit from a male producer on his most recent album and has been at the center of salacious sexual rumors involving Usher and Meek Mill.

Diddy likely can’t do much of anything career-related for a good minute: His famous Star Island parties are likely shut down until further notice and he’d better not attempt anything in which he asks folks for money for a good while.

John Singleton

Probably didn’t know about this one, eh? In 1999, the “Boyz N The Hood” director was charged with a misdemeanor after allegedly repeatedly punching his ex-girlfriend, choking her and leaving her with bruises – he apparently only stopped when his daughter pleaded for him to do so. The court ordered him to shoot a film on domestic violence – though if it exists, we can’t find it.

Tyra Banks spoke about being physically and emotionally abused by a boyfriend in a 2006 interview – she never confirmed, but most are convinced her abuser was her ex Singleton. He even made headlines for lewd and inappropriate behavior during an interview with The Root in 2017.

Singleton died of a heart attack in 2019, early into production of his beloved final television project “Snowfall” and before #MeToo had the opportunity to hem him up. His beloved oeuvre and lower behind-the-camera profile likely protected him.

Nelly

Another who went under the radar for years. Nelly was arrested and charged with the second-degree rape of a 22-year-old college student in October 2017. He denied it, and she dropped the case, suing him later for sexual assault and defamation, to which he countersued. They settled the following year.

Included in that civil suit were allegations from two other unidentified women in England who claimed that Nelly forcefully groped and attempted to kiss them.

Decades past his early 2000s prime, Nelly has participated in a Verzuz battle, received a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, was a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars” and has a Burger King endorsement deal. He’s recently received a lot of sweetheart treatment for his renewed relationship with Ashanti, who is pregnant with their first child.

Dr. Dre

When Dre beat Dee Barnes in 1991 badly enough that she’s still experiencing chronic pain more than three decades later, it would’ve ended his career immediately if social media were a thing.

Dre assaulted Barnes for doing her journalistic due diligence by interviewing both N.W.A. and Ice Cube, who were beefed out at the time, for her “Pump it Up” show segment. He acknowledged the assault very passively in his documentary “The Defiant Ones” but didn’t mention Barnes by name. Unsurprisingly, the incident was completely left out of the 2015 “Straight Outta Compton” biopic.

Dre remains a lauded Hip-Hop legend, and the Grammys named the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award after him. Barnes has a few things to say about it.

Charlamagne Tha God

Even as his profile grows and he embraces his role as a pundit for the upcoming presidential election, Lenard McKelvey continues to weather 20-plus-year-old allegations.

Charlamagne was sued in 2023 for sexual assault, battery and defamation of character for allegedly sexually assaulting Jessica Reid at a 2001 party. He has maintained his innocence, using his various platforms to besmirch Reid’s character (hence the defamation) and insisted that the rape kit administered to Reid at the time came back absolving him.

Reid has stayed the course, remaining as vocal and litigious as possible, while Charlamagne has worked largely behind the scenes to keep things quiet. However, nothing about these allegations have slowed his career a beat…at least visibly.

Trey Songz

I just wrote about this dude last month. In case you missed it, Songz is probably the worst and most prolific alleged sexual assault offender in R&B who has yet to get his just legal desserts.

On Feb. 23, a 2015 case in which he allegedly assaulted two women at a party was dropped without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled again at some point. Methinks it’s just a matter of time…

Chris Brown

Brown might be the most successful working pop/R&B star with a domestic violence asterisk hanging over his career.

Fifteen years ago last month, Brown got in a physical altercation with his then-girlfriend Rihanna that left her battered and bruised up…damage that we all saw. It was the early days of Twitter and social media “cancelation,” but Brown was persona non grata for a little while.

Brown will never fully escape the specter of battering America’s Black Sweetheart, as folks will always remind the world what he did even with every smaller infraction. Just a twinge of humility might help his cause.

Floyd Mayweather

Mayweather managed to duck and dodge the consequences of numerous domestic violence allegations against him on his way to completing an undefeated pro boxing career. The masses who dropped millions to watch his fights handily disregarded the fact that Mayweather did real jail time, in 2011, after pleading guilty to battery domestic violence.

Why did his last professional fight – against Conor McGregor in 2017 —rake in more than $600 million? Could be the systematic destruction of incriminating photos, according to Deadspin? If an entire city is dedicated to the money one man brings in, the conspiracy theories aren’t so crazy.

Russell Simmons

The legendary Def Jam founder has such a long and still-growing list of sexual assault accusers that dude just got on a plane and flew out to Bali – the other side of the planet.

Simmons has been in the Indonesian country since 2018, maintaining his innocence even as his immediate family members have publicly slammed him for all the things. Meanwhile, we’re still trying to figure out what the hell Usher was thinking putting so much of his good will in danger by being seen in a photo with Simmons in 2024.

Bill Cosby and R. Kelly

See y’all in 25 years to never.

Surprisingly, federal authorities invaded music billionaire Diddy’s mansions in Miami and Los Angeles with weapons blazing on the grounds of possible sex trafficking.

Earlier today, during the raids at the California property, Diddy’s two kids, Justin and Christian “King” Combs, were among those handcuffed. Recent information, however, indicates that Diddy was not present for the raids.

Following the dramatic events, TMZ got a video showing Diddy pacing outside a Customs office at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport at 3 p.m. PST.

According to witnesses, federal officials apprehended Diddy and his colleagues, who were later joined by Department of Homeland Security personnel. Despite the tense circumstances, the clip shows Diddy walking alone, neither arrested nor detained.

The raids are reportedly tied to sex trafficking claims, although no further information has been released. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, in coordination with HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and local law enforcement partners, carried out the operations as part of an ongoing investigation, according to an ABC 7 release.

These charges add to a string of recent allegations against Diddy, which include allegations of sexual assault and abuse. Notably, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie filed a lawsuit in November accusing him of rape and years of sexual abuse, while another complaint surfaced involving Diddy and two others allegedly raping a 17-year-old female.

Diddy has adamantly disputed all claims against him, maintaining his innocence amidst the ongoing legal drama.

Watch the video of Diddy pacing outside the Miami-area airport below.

#TMZ has the first video of #Diddy after his homes were raided by the feds Monday — he was caught pacing around Miami airport. https://t.co/F84js7uo79 pic.twitter.com/vGSlxBrtNX

— TMZ (@TMZ) March 26, 2024

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Though Donald Trump saw a major victory on Monday when a New York appellate court reduced his nearly half-billion-dollar appeals bond, political and legal experts made clear that Attorney General Letitia James is the real winner in the civil fraud case.

“There’s a certain poetic justice to a Black woman exposing a criminal degenerate former president as being a complete fraud,” political strategist Reecie Colbert said of James, who made history as New York’s first Black female attorney general. “She really fearlessly went after Donald Trump, and she did it methodically, and she did it in a way that made her case unimpeachable. That’s why she got this massive victory.”

Though Trump has an additional 10 days to pay $175 million, James made clear it holds no consequence to her historic win against a former U.S. president. 

“Donald Trump is still facing accountability for his staggering fraud,” the Howard Law School graduate said in a statement issued Monday after Trump’s $454 million appeals bond was narrowed on the day he was due to pay it. “The $464 million judgment – plus interest – against Donald Trump and the other defendants still stands.”

For her part, Letitia James has emerged as a powerful political figure. As former New York assemblyman and CEO of the Kairos Democracy Project Michael A. Blake points out, James is “the most recognizable attorney general in America.”

“We can’t ignore the significance of a Black person, and more specifically a Black woman, accomplishing this success against a man who has for decades gone after Black people,” Blake told theGrio.

The 65-year-old attorney general, who made history in her successful prosecution of a former president, did what few prosecutors could do in decades past. 

“There was a history of knowledge within the New York City and New York State community of these practices, and no one ever had enough courage to step up and actually bring about justice,” explained April Camara, president and CEO of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association. 

Camara told theGrio, “It’s really important to note that a Black woman was the person to step up and actually be courageous enough to investigate this case and bring it to a just result.” She noted that James “stood courageously against a lot of assaults and a lot of attacks on her character, and she didn’t waver.” 

The fact that Trump moved to appeal the $454 million liability and extend the deadline for him to issue a lesser $175 million payment shows that James may have also exposed the so-called billionaire isn’t as wealthy as he claimed to be. 

The former president, who avoided paying federal taxes for at least a decade, is currently scrambling to put together the money while his 2024 reelection campaign continues to bleed cash and his Super PAC helps pay his legal fees amid several criminal and civil cases.

“If you’re assessing that you believe Trump was a successful businessman, it’s becoming very clear to you that he’s a fraud,” said Blake, who worked for the Obama White House and presidential campaigns.

“For many people, they think about Trump from ‘The Apprentice,’” he said. “It’s important to remind and educate people of the history. This family built their success in large part due to fraud and in large part because they were attacking Black and brown people.”

The former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee recalled Trump’s history of housing discrimination against Black residents in New York in the 1970s. Blake noted that Trump issued a call for the death penalty against five Black and brown teens, known as the Central Park Five, for an assault and rape they did not commit.

“If the reason you thought Trump was successful, and think, ‘Well, this is the man who got me a COVID check,’” said Blake, “what you now have to envision is he is the man who has to now write a half-a-billion-dollar check because of the fraud he actually committed.”

Colbert said that if the Biden-Harris reelection campaign and Democrats are savvy enough, a political prosecution of Trump is theirs for the taking. 

The idea that Trump is a successful businessman is one of his “strongest narratives,” she said. “That’s why [people think] he’s better on the economy. That’s why people feel like they did better under Trump.” Colbert said, “Democrats need to really run that home.” 

“Not only is he a fraud in business, but his record is a fraud. The claims that he made about how he made your life better are fraud,” she added. “This whole save democracy thing is not going to resonate as much as really undercutting the notion that he was a competent president who actually accomplished anything. That’s the hardest thing that they have to get over.”

The successful prosecution of Trump could also have a political impact on Letitia James, who briefly launched a campaign to be the governor of New York before dropping out to “finish the job” of attorney general. 

“How often can someone say that they have successfully defeated a former president in court? She has done that,” said Blake.

Colbert said James demonstrates “why Black women make for some of the best leaders,” noting that she could see her moving to higher office, whether that is governor of New York or U.S. attorney general. Regardless, she said, James’ prosecution of Trump will “go down in history as one of the most consequential civil judgments of all time.”

Camara said that as a former public defender, she also understands what the Trump prosecution means for Black and brown communities.

“Oftentimes what we see in the legal system is that people who are under-resourced and furthest away from money and power are oftentimes targeted and mostly impacted by prosecutions in the legal system,” she explained. 

“To see the system actually worked fairly, even against a person who held the highest office in the land, is not only historic, but it is very important to preserving these ideas around equal justice for all.”

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Gerren Keith Gaynor is a White House Correspondent and the Managing Editor of Politics at theGrio. He is based in Washington, D.C.