Trayon White: Washington DC City Councilman Arrested for Alleged Bribery to Enforce Violence Prevention Contracts in Return of Kickbacks

CNN
—

Washington DC City Councilman Trayon White allegedly participated in a bribery scheme to use his elected position to funnel government contracts to two companies by accepting envelopes containing thousands of dollars in cash and lucrative kickbacks, according to federal prosecutors.

White, who represents southeast DC, was arrested by the FBI on Sunday and made a brief court appearance on Monday, where he did not confess.

As part of the alleged bribery scheme, White received kickbacks from multimillion-dollar city contracts related to violence intervention services in Washington. In total, White agreed to take $156,000 in cash for his work – or 3% of the contract value, prosecutors allege.

The plot was played out in recorded conversations, prosecutors said in court documents. White made the alleged agreements with a local businessman who had contracts with the Washington, D.C. government without White's knowledge, pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges and cooperated with police.

White's office released a statement confirming receipt of the criminal complaint.

“We recognize the seriousness of this matter. We want to assure the residents and stakeholders of District 8 that our office remains fully operational and remains true to our commitment to the public,” the statement said.

According to records cited in court documents, White repeatedly implied to the informant that he needed money and said he was “sick.” The records described in court documents also show that the informant offered White thousands of dollars in cash to pressure city officials into certain contracts that would benefit his businesses and to consider additional contracts they might try in the future.

In one conversation, White was recorded asking the informant what they needed from him.

“I don't want to feel like I have to be given something to get something. We're better than that,” White said before taking an envelope containing thousands in cash from the informant.

The councillor is said to have boasted about his influence, telling the informant: “I am a strong voice when it comes to violence prevention and the city council” and that “I have a lot of weight when it comes to initiatives against violence”.

The two also spoke, according to court documents, about how White would use his position of power as a city councilman to pressure government employees to “support” him. White recounted some of these conversations in recorded conversations with the informant. In one instance, he told a government employee, “I will only support you if you support me.”

During Monday's hearing, White entered the room, bowed his head, clasped his hands and sat down next to his lawyer.

The courtroom was packed with White supporters, some wearing White's campaign T-shirts and face masks. Many of them carried copies of the criminal complaint and read it together, pointing to different parts in hushed tones.

White was released on Monday following the hearing. A status conference is scheduled for September 19. Neither White nor his attorney would comment on the charges.

This story has been updated with further developments.

Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that the court document filed was a criminal complaint.