Trial date set for DC councilmember Trayon White in federal bribery case

WASHINGTON - A trial date has been set for D.C. Councilmember Trayon White in his federal bribery case. Arguments are scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026.

Judge Rudolph Contreras granted the later trial date to allow White's new public defenders the necessary time to prepare. It was noted in court that White’s attorneys are handling other trials and a leave of absence before arguments begin in his case.

The FBI arrested Councilmember White in August, accusing him of accepting over $150,000 in bribes to extend city violence interruption contracts.

READ MORE: DC Council removes Trayon White from committee leadership role

After the Wednesday status conference, White spoke briefly but refused to answer follow-up questions from reporters.

"Today was a day we set our trial dates. I'm extremely comfortable with my attorneys. I have two sets of attorneys right now," White said. "I'm just taking it one day at a time."

"I am entitled to a due process like everyone else, I'm a citizen, United States of America," he continued. "Here in D.C., we are concerned about President Trump becoming president and what that can mean for D.C. I'm a Democrat, but I have nothing against the incoming President Trump, but I want to say this. As a citizen, I would expect the Council to give me the same - and the people of Ward 8 - the same justice that we allow the federal government to give us, and that's the vote of the people. 20,000 people voted for me to be the Councilmember, last week, of Ward 8. And so we are entitled to have our rights heard as well. And so we plan to fight the government in court and just go through the process." 

READ MORE: Trayon White arrested: DC councilmember charged with bribery

White has pleaded not guilty. He recently won his Ward 8 reelection race in a landslide against a Republican challenger.

Prosecutors allege that in June, White agreed to accept approximately $156,000 in kickbacks and cash payments to pressure government agency employees into extending two companies' contracts worth over $5 million.

READ MORE: DC councilman accused of taking $156K in bribes, pleads not guilty

Authorities claim to have secretly recorded conversations between White and an FBI informant, who allegedly gave White $35,000 in cash on four occasions between June and August. The FBI included photos in court documents showing White stuffing an envelope, purportedly containing $15,000 in cash, into his jacket pocket.

White has served on the D.C. council since 2017, representing a predominantly Black ward with a poverty rate nearly twice as high as the overall district.

READ MORE: DC Councilman Trayon White's Office releases statement following arrest on bribery charge

He was one of two D.C. council members whom Mayor Muriel Bowser defeated in the Democratic primary two years ago. A former grassroots community activist, White was a protégé of former Mayor Marion Barry, who also represented the same ward on the council.

White was stripped of his position as Chair of the D.C. Council Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs following his arrest. He remains a councilmember and retains his right to vote on matters.

An ad hoc Council Committee has until December 16 to submit a report on the council’s separate investigation into the allegations against White.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.