Trayon White arrested: DC councilmember charged with bribery

WASHINGTON - D.C. Councilmember Trayon White was arrested Sunday on a criminal complaint charging him with bribery, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

White, 40, who chairs the Council’s Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs, is accused of accepting $156,000 in cash payments in exchange for using his position to influence contract renewals.

He was released on bond Monday on his own recognizance. The bribery charge carries up to 15 years in jail, up to a $250,000 fine or three times the amount of the alleged bribe, according to the judge.

He is required to surrender his passport. He must also notify the court if he plans to leave a 50-mile radius from D.C., but no approval is needed. He is not allowed to contact any witnesses specifically connected to the case. But because of his position, he can talk to witnesses, just not about the case. White’s defense waived his preliminary hearing. His next court date is scheduled for September 19 and is a status conference hearing. Dozens of people who were supporting White were in court Monday.

The criminal complaint alleges that beginning in June 2024, White agreed to accept the cash to pressure employees at the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to extend contracts worth $5.2 million for Violence Intervention services in the District. The $156,000 represented three percent of the total contract value.

According to the complaint, White’s agreement with a confidential source, who owns the companies involved, included four separate cash payments of $35,000 each. The transactions and discussions were reportedly captured on video.

"Because the investigation into the alleged bribery scheme involved contracts that could soon be awarded and other potential official acts that could be taken, our Office took swift steps to address the alleged crimes we were investigating," said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, the district’s federal prosecutor, in a statement released Monday.

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Trayon White Arrested: DC councilmember charged with bribery (United States District Court for the District of Columbia)

DC councilmember Trayon White arrested by FBI, chairman confirms

D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has confirmed that Councilmember Trayon White was arrested by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigations Sunday afternoon.

Phil Mendelson, chairman of the Washington, D.C., Council, issued a statement Monday afternoon.

"The federal charges against Councilmember Trayon White are deeply disturbing. Notwithstanding the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty, the allegations, together with the government’s affidavit, are a gut punch to the public trust in the Council," said Mendelson. ""Unfortunately, the judicial process can be slower than the public’s right to accountable government. Accordingly, I will be following the Council’s Rules and establishing an Ad Hoc Committee to assess the situation, the evidence of wrongdoing to the extent it is available, and the questions about residency, and to make a recommendation to the full Council as soon as possible. It is my plan to work out the details and announce the appointments this week. Because the federal allegations directly relate to the business of the Council’s Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs, it is in my view necessary to remove Councilmember White from that Committee until the federal charges are resolved."

White, who has served as a councilmember since 2016, was expected to win a third term in November. He has been a vocal advocate for community safety in Ward 8, an area plagued by high crime rates.

Ward 8 ANC responds to Trayon White’s arrest

Ward 8 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Salim Adofo has been inundated with calls and text messages from concerned citizens following the arrest of D.C. Councilmember Trayon White. Adofo, who lost to White in this year’s Ward 8 Democratic primary, spoke with FOX 5’s Melanie Alnwick on Monday morning before the charges against White were announced.

Earlier this year FOX 5 reported that White owes thousands in fines related to campaign funds. The Washington City Paper reported that the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance imposed a $20,000 fine on White and his campaign treasurer. Additionally, White reportedly owes nearly $59,000 in public funds received through D.C.'s Fair Elections Program.

When FOX 5 asked about the $59,000 in campaign funds back in March, White stated he is working with his attorney and accountant to resolve the issue.

D.C. Councilmember Trayon White

Ward 8 ANC Responds to Trayon White’s Arrest

"Clearly, it doesn’t sit well with a lot of our residents, especially those who are deeply connected to the community and want to stay informed on a day-to-day basis," Adofo said. "It’s an unfortunate situation, but since we don’t have any information, we have to wait until the facts come out."

Adofo expressed uncertainty about how the news would affect White’s political career.