DC councilmember facing federal bribery charges wins landslide re-election, but colleagues may oust him
A Washington, D.C. councilmember accused by federal authorities of accepting $156,000 in bribes is facing a legal battle just days after winning re-election by a landslide. Trayon White Sr., who represents Ward 8 on the D.C. Council, is expected to appear in court this week as the Council considers expelling him from his position.
Despite the allegations against him, White secured re-election with nearly 76% of the vote, defeating his Republican challenger by a wide margin. In a statement to WJLA on Election Day, White expressed confidence in the decision of the people of Ward 8 and hoped that it would send a message to the D.C. Council about letting the people’s voices be heard.
However, White’s legal troubles stem from allegations that he accepted bribes in exchange for using his position to influence government contracts. The Justice Department claims that White agreed to accept cash payments totaling $156,000 in exchange for pressuring government employees to extend contracts worth $5.2 million for violence intervention services. The DOJ alleges that White received $35,000 in cash on four separate occasions and was captured on video discussing his cut of the contracts.
If convicted, White faces up to 15 years in prison. In September, he was removed from his committee position by the D.C. Council and an investigation into his actions is ongoing. The Council has brought in an outside legal firm to assist with the investigation, with a report expected by December.
White is scheduled to appear in court this week for his federal case. He had previously rejected a plea deal and prosecutors are now pushing for jury selection to begin in July 2025. The outcome of his legal battle and potential expulsion from the D.C. Council remain uncertain as the case continues to unfold.
It is important to note that Fox News’ Pilar Arias, David Spunt, and Jake Gibson contributed to the original report. This rewritten article aims to provide a detailed overview of Trayon White Sr.’s legal saga while adhering to the key points and structure of the original piece.
