DC Councilmember Trayon White Sr. Arrested in Federal Bribery Case

Washington, DC, councilmember Trayon White Sr. has been charged with accepting over USD 150,000 in bribes to help companies secure city contracts. The FBI alleges White pressured government employees to extend contracts worth over USD 5 million, and also accepted a USD 20,000 bribe for contract dispute resolution. He is set for a court appearance and is running for re-election in November.

A Washington, DC, councilmember known for promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories has been arrested on charges that he accepted over USD 150,000 in bribes in exchange for using his elected position to help companies with city contracts, according to court records unsealed on Monday.

Trayon White Sr., a Democrat who ran an unsuccessful mayoral campaign in 2022, was arrested on a federal bribery charge by the FBI on Sunday. He is expected to make his initial court appearance on Monday.

An FBI agent's affidavit says White agreed in June to accept roughly USD 156,000 in kickbacks and cash payments in exchange for pressuring government agency employees to extend two companies' contracts for violence intervention services. The contacts were worth over USD 5 million.

White, 40, also accepted a USD 20,000 bribe payment to help resolve a contract dispute for one of the companies by pressuring high-level district officials, the affidavit alleges.

An FBI informant who agreed to plead guilty to fraud and bribery charges reported giving White gifts including travel to the Dominican Republic and Las Vegas along with paying him bribes, the FBI said.

White, who has served on the DC council since 2017, represents a predominantly Black ward where the poverty rate is nearly twice as high as the overall district. He is running for re-election in November against a Republican challenger.

White's chief of staff and communication director didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

(With inputs from agencies.)