DONKEY: Manhattan Attorney Steals $4.4 Million Intended For Covid Protective Gear

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club

Episode: DONKEY: Manhattan Attorney Steals $4.4 Million Intended For Covid Protective Gear
Date: June 29, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God (with Angela Yee)
Network: The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode spotlights Charlamagne Tha God's infamous “Donkey of the Day” segment, focusing on the shocking case of Manhattan real estate attorney Brian McKenna. The discussion dissects McKenna’s theft of $4.4 million, originally intended for Covid protective gear, and his deeply questionable motives—namely, diverting funds to impress a romantic partner. The hosts break down just how far some people will go for love (or lust), the magnitude of McKenna’s betrayal, and the broader lessons about greed, privilege, and accountability.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Donkey of the Day Introduction & Background

• Timestamp: [03:01]
• Charlamagne Tha God introduces Brian McKenna, a 62-year-old Manhattan real estate attorney sentenced to up to six years in prison for stealing $4.4 million intended for Covid PPE.
• The case is framed in signature Charlamagne style—mixing humor, incredulity, and moral outrage.

2. The Motivation Behind the Crime

• Charlamagne riffs on the age-old stereotype of men making disastrous decisions over romantic entanglements:
  • “What do men usually risk it all for? That poom. Poom. Okay? That kitty, that undercarriage, that cookie, that penis fly trap.” ([03:08])
• It’s alleged McKenna’s actions were fueled by a desire to fund his romance with Dooney Zanae, CEO of Aston’s Group.
• Charlamagne pokes holes in the idea of “funding a romance,” noting, “You don’t fund a romance. Romance happens because of physical attraction, emotional connection, situational factors... You can’t buy a love, fool.” ([05:31])

3. The Victims—A Crisis Betrayed

• Timestamp: [04:03]
• Charlamagne’s core outrage: real people were denied vital protective gear during the pandemic.
  • “You stole all this money from people who needed it, okay? Folks needed that covert protective gear during COVID and you just stole it... A man who didn’t need it, okay?” ([04:03])

4. Personal Accountability & Legal Fallout

• Timestamp: [03:44], [06:09]
• The podcast plays clips of McKenna expressing remorse in court:
  • McKenna: “I did these crimes. I deserve to go to jail. I don’t know what else to say for myself. I’m sorry.” ([03:44]; replayed at [06:09])
• Charlamagne acknowledges the rare sign of accountability, “I respect that he’s holding himself accountable, okay? He said he did these crimes. He said he deserves to go to jail.” ([06:14])

5. Privilege, Choices & The Absurdity of the Crime

• Timestamp: [04:18]-[06:14]
• Charlamagne dives into McKenna’s privileged position as an established attorney, noting the years of effort to reach this stage in life:
  • “You have worked hard to become an attorney in this country, okay? You, more than a lot of people, understand the process of life... But for some reason, you thought you could cut the line.” ([04:18])
• He mocks the idea of using millions to impress a partner who, as a CEO, “was touching some paper.” ([04:36])
• The broader lesson: “So many people are having financial struggles. And sadly, they don’t have the luxury of resorting to crime to get it.” ([06:29])

6. The Moral of the Story

• Charlamagne concludes:
  • “Life is a matter of choices. And every choice you make makes you.” ([06:54])
• He punctuates the segment with The Hamiltones’ “Sweet Sounds,” a recurring “Donkey of the Day” closing tradition.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sharpest roast:
  • “You thought you could take a $4.4 million shortcut, all to impress a woman who already has her own money.” (Charlamagne, [04:31])
• On love and money:
  • “Romance can’t be funded... You can buy some pink taco with some money... but funding a romance? Nah, nah, nah... You can’t buy a love, fool.” (Charlamagne, [05:31])
• Classic wordplay:
  • “I started to say, give Brian McKenna a Swedish hee haw, but that sounds like something you can purchase at a brothel in Nevada.” (Charlamagne, [07:50])

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Important Timestamps

• 03:01 – Donkey of the Day segment introduction and case background
• 03:44 – McKenna’s in-court apology
• 04:03-04:18 – Outrage over stealing essential Covid resources
• 05:05-06:14 – Breakdown of McKenna’s motivation, privilege, and the absurdity of “funding a romance”
• 06:54 – Message on choices and accountability
• 07:44 – Signature “Donkey of the Day” outro with The Hamiltones

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Tone & Language

Charlamagne leads with sharp humor, cultural references, and a mix of streetwise wisdom and moral clarity. Angela Yee chimes in to reinforce points and keep the rhythm. The tone is irreverent but ultimately slices to the ethical heart of the matter: real people were hurt, poor choices have real consequences, and no amount of money can buy genuine affection or integrity.

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Summary Takeaway

The episode delivers a classic “Donkey of the Day”—a cautionary tale about privilege squandered, the futility of trying to buy love, and the need to make better choices in life. Anchored by memorable quips and an unmistakable Breakfast Club energy, it’s equal parts entertainment and real talk.

Transcript

[Charlamagne Tha God]

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[Angela Yee]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

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execution on the donkey of the day is something to behold.

He gave me donkey of the Day

and I deserve it. People need to know.

Well, you need to tell them.

I am. You have the voice.

[Angela Yee]

Tell them.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Tell. It's time for donkey of the day. It's a read. But you're so good at it, you're trying to be a fake ass Charlemagne.

[Angela Yee]

There's only one Charlemagne involved.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn Charlemagne. Who you give a dunkey of the day to now?

Well, sexy red Donkey of the day for Wednesday, March 25, goes to a Manhattan real estate attorney named Brian McKenna. Now, Brian is going to prison, ladies and gentlemen, okay? That's why the New York Post referred to him as disgraced real estate attorney Brian McKenna. He's 62 years old and he's going to prison for up to six years. Why? What do men usually risk it all for? That poom. Poom. Okay? That kitty, that undercarriage, that cookie, that penis. Fly trap. Yes. Brian McKenna is being accused of stealing $4.4 million intended for Covid protective gear, Allegedly to fund a romance with his then girlfriend. Oh, the power of the P. U. S. I can't spell the rest. Would you like to hear his reaction in the court? Let's listen.

[Angela Yee]

I did these crimes. I deserve to go to jail. I don't know what else to say for myself.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I understand, and I really appreciate you taking full responsibility. But ultimately, sir.

[Commercial Narrator 2]

All right,

[Charlamagne Tha God]

now, there's so many things that discuss me about this story. Number one, you stole all this money from people who needed it, okay? Folks needed that covert protective gear during COVID and you just stole it, okay? You just stole the money for it, all right? A man who didn't need it, okay?

[Commercial Narrator 3]

You're a lawyer.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You 62 years old, Brian. So you were in your 50s when you came up with this scam. Because what Kobe was. Kobe was six years ago, Okay? I don't understand people who literally have the world in their hand. You have worked hard to become an attorney in this country, okay? You, more than a lot of people, understand the process of life. You understand life is a process, okay? Becoming a lawyer takes at least seven years of full time higher education in this country, all right? Four years for a bachelor's degree. Three years of law school. You have to pass the bar exam. They got a baby bar and the big bar. My point is, it's not easy. And nothing in life worth having ever is. But for some reason, you thought you could cut the line. You thought you could take a $4.4 million shortcut, all to impress a woman who already has her own money. He was dating the then CEO of Aston's Group. Her name was Dooney Zanae. Okay? That's according to the New York Post. I don't know how much she was making, but if she was the CEO of a company, she was touching some paper. So I don't know why you went out of your way, Brian. To impress her. And I don't even like that phrase, fund a romance. You don't fund a romance. Romance happens because of physical attraction, emotional connection, situational factors. Okay? Y' all might just match energies, all right? You like the same things, share the same beliefs. And let's not forget the most important part. Reciprocal liking. Okay? You like me, I like you. Romance can't be funded. Now, you can go buy some pink taco with some money, all right? Go to Nevada. Pull up in certain counties at a brothel, and you can purchase as much as that Harry Potter as you want. But funding a romance? Nah, nah, nah, nah. I don't even want no romance that's funded because there's no such thing. You can't buy a love, fool. Now, Brian was in the courtroom crying his ass off. I want y' all to hear this again, man. Just listen.

[Angela Yee]

I did these crimes. I deserve to pretend I don't know what else to say for myself. I'm sorry.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, Mr. McKenna, I understand, and I really appreciate you taking full responsibility. But ultimately, sir. All right, ultimately what? It was ultimately what? He is going to jail for six years. I respect that he's holding himself accountable, okay? He said he did these crimes. He said he deserves to go to jail. Now, his defense lawyer, Eric Franz, claimed to the court that Brian had run into financial struggles and that he was just trying to help his family with the stolen funds. But assistant D. A. Jonathan Borrell, alleged that Brian stole the money to spend on himself and his gal pal. Dooney's a. Nate, listen. Neither one of those valid reasons. So many people are having financial struggles. And sadly, they don't have the luxury of resorting to crime to get it. Okay? And you, Brian, were in a privileged position already. Not just a privileged position to get money because you were a lawyer, you know what I'm saying? But also a Manhattan real estate attorney. Should be able to get his hands on some happy clamor. But nope, instead, you gotta guard your balloon. Not for the next six years in somebody's prison, okay? Probably get ass warts. And for what? The moral of the story is, life is a matter of choices. And every choice you make makes you. Please give Brian McKenna. The sweetest, the big, the sweet, the sweet sounds of the Hamiltones. That's what I want. You the donkey of the day. You are the doggie of the day. He haw. I started to say, give Brian McKenna a Swedish hee haw, but that sounds like something you can purchase. Brothel in Nevada. All right, don't move.

[Commercial Narrator 3]

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[Angela Yee]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is an iheart podcast. Guaranteed human.