D.C. Councilmember Trayon White Charged with Bribery in Kickback Scheme

Washington, D.C. Councilmember Trayon White Sr. was arrested on Sunday, facing serious allegations of bribery involving over $150,000 in kickbacks. According to court records unsealed on Monday, White is accused of using his position to pressure city employees into extending contracts worth more than $5 million for violence intervention services. The Justice Department claims that White agreed to accept approximately $156,000 in exchange for his influence, with evidence including a photo of him allegedly stuffing an envelope containing $15,000 in cash into his jacket. The investigation, which involved the FBI and other agencies, revealed that White received cash payments on multiple occasions from a confidential informant who was cooperating with authorities. In recorded conversations, White discussed the contracts and his financial arrangements, including a proposed 3% cut from the total contract value. The charges come as White, who has represented Ward 8 since 2017, was preparing for a third term after winning the Democratic primary in June. White's past has been marred by controversy, including promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories, notably suggesting that the Rothschild family controls the weather. Following his arrest, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson expressed concern over the impact of these allegations on public trust and announced plans to remove White from his committee positions until the matter is resolved. White faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted, with his next court appearance scheduled for September 19.