Feds Charge D.C. Councilmember Trayon White with Bribery Offense

Washington — Federal prosecutors have charged Trayon White, a member of the D.C. City Council, with a serious count of bribery. Authorities allege that White accepted more than $150,000 in exchange for helping to secure large government contracts.

The FBI arrested White on Sunday, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia laid out the charges against him on Monday. White, who represents Ward 8 in Southeast D.C., is accused of abusing his position as chair of the D.C. Council’s Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs to pressure city officials into extending contracts worth $5.6 million. These contracts pertain to firms that work with at-risk youth and provide services aimed at preventing violence.

An affidavit filed with the criminal complaint explains that the contract negotiations were recorded by an unnamed business owner who has since become a government informant. This source secretly documented several conversations held with White between June and August, discussing potential government deals. In a plea agreement with prosecutors, the source has cooperated fully with the investigation against White.

The financial exchanges between White and the informant were substantial. The affidavit indicates that during four meetings, White received a total of $35,000 in cash. Included in the court documents are images from the surveillance video allegedly showing White accepting cash in envelopes.

In one recorded conversation from July 17, the company owner suggested a plan where they would take a 3% cut from contracts with the D.C. government. White allegedly agreed to this proposal. Later that same day, after discussing potential collaboration concerning the city’s mental health services, the informant handed over an envelope containing $5,000. White reportedly stated that he could “start making some s*** happen.”

Text exchanges showcased in the affidavit reveal White’s maneuvering to renew contracts in exchange for cash payments. He requested the informant to bring $10,000 to a meeting on July 25, during which they discussed the city employees responsible for renewing these contracts.

In his own words, White indicated that a certain government employee needed to be “massaged” to facilitate the process. “I’m going to stay in communication” with this employee, he said, implying a level of involvement in the negotiation process.

Prosecutors moved quickly to bring these charges to light, citing the ongoing investigation into contracts that were nearing finalization. “Given the potential for contracts to soon be awarded alongside other official actions that could have occurred, our Office acted swiftly to address the alleged offenses we were reviewing,” stated U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves.

Additionally, the affidavit claims that White had previously received a $20,000 bribe in 2020 from the same government source during a dispute over a multi-million dollar city contract. In return for that payment, White allegedly attempted to persuade city officials to resolve the issue favorably for the company. The informant also shared that he had covered White’s travel expenses to destinations like Las Vegas and the Dominican Republic, among various other gifts offered to the council member.

A request for comment directed to White’s attorney went unanswered as of Monday.

White, a 40-year-old longtime D.C. resident, has been on the city council since 2017. He gained significant media attention in 2018 when he made headlines for endorsing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, which suggested that a prominent family manipulated the climate and financial systems. He later extended an apology to the Jewish community for those remarks.