DC Councilman Trayon White edges closer to being expelled with new report
Washington, D.C., councilman Trayon White is facing potential expulsion after an investigative report revealed multiple violations of city code of conduct provisions. White, a Democrat representing Ward 8, was arrested by the FBI on a federal bribery charge in August. Despite this, he managed to secure a third term in a landslide victory on Election Day.
The report, conducted by the law firm Latham & Watkins LLP at the request of an ad hoc committee, was submitted to the council on Monday. The council is set to meet next Monday to discuss the findings and consider possible sanctions against White. The investigation focused on whether White had violated D.C. law, the D.C. Code of Conduct, or Council Rules.
The federal bribery case against White alleges that he accepted $156,000 in cash payments in exchange for using his position to influence government employees at the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to extend D.C. contracts totaling $5.2 million for two companies providing “Violence Intervention” services in the city.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson established the ad hoc committee in August to investigate the allegations against White. The councilman has declined multiple invitations to meet with the committee since then. Councilman Kenyan McDuffie, who chairs the ad hoc committee, stated that the investigation found “substantial evidence” of White’s misconduct related to the bribery claims, which violated several provisions of the D.C. Council’s Code of Official Conduct.
The investigation, which spanned 11 weeks, included 22 interviews with officials from various D.C. agencies, current and former members of White’s staff, leaders in the violence intervention community, and other individuals with relevant information. The law firm also reviewed documents and thousands of emails from White and his staff’s official accounts.
White has not publicly commented on the report’s findings and declined requests to be interviewed by the law firm. The council is now tasked with deliberating on the findings and deciding whether to recommend sanctions against White.
As the situation unfolds, White’s future as a councilman hangs in the balance, with his colleagues potentially considering expulsion in light of the serious allegations against him. The outcome of the council’s meeting next Monday will determine the next steps in addressing this troubling situation.
