DC Council expels Trayon White as he fights federal bribery charge

The D.C. Council voted unanimously Tuesday to expel Councilmember Trayon White, who was arrested last summer on a federal bribery charge and accused of accepting $35,000 cash.

White, 40, was arrested by the FBI in August on a charge of taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to influence city contract decisions. His federal trial won’t start until January 2026, but preliminary evidence shows White pocketing cash-stuffed envelopes from a city contractor-turned-informer.

Despite the arrest, White was reelected to a third term less than three months later with limited opposition.

“Bribery of elected officials is quintessential corruption,” Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said before the vote. “Trust is precious. Trust is critical for an elected government and we must act.”

It’s the first time in modern D.C. history that the Council has expelled one of its own members. Most recently, in 2019, former councilmember Jack Evans — facing multiple charges of ethics violations — resigned ahead of an expulsion vote.

White refused to cooperate with an internal Council inquiry that ended up recommending his expulsion.

During Tuesday’s council hearing, White sat silently in the audience surrounded by supporters. Meanwhile, a panel truck sat parked outside the D.C. government building with an electronic display showing a picture of White and the message “FBI set me up.” Another image in the shifting display showed a picture of Mendelson underneath the word “Racist.”

After the vote, White declined to answer reporters’ questions as he went to his office for perhaps the final time.

Special election will be held for Ward 8 seat

The D.C. Board of Elections will declare the Ward 8 seat vacant and will schedule a special election to be held from 70 to 174 days from now.

White is free to enter the special election, as long as he hasn’t been convicted of a felony. 

When News4 asked Councilmembers Mendelson and Kenyan McDuffie if they would vote to expel White a second time should he win the special election, both said they did not want to speculate.

Here’s what federal prosecutors say Trayon White did

Federal prosecutors say White agreed starting in June to accept $156,000 in bribes in exchange for using his position to pressure government employees to extend violence intervention contracts worth $5.2 million.

He is accused of accepting envelopes full of cash as he was caught on a hidden camera. Here’s how the FBI broke down the payments:

• June 26: $15,000 cash received
• July 17: $5,000 cash received
• July 25: $10,000 cash received
• Aug. 9: $5,000 cash received

Images included in court documents show what prosecutors say is White receiving envelopes stuffed with cash.

U.S. District Court for D.C.

An FBI informant who operated businesses that contracted with the D.C. government cooperated with authorities as part of an agreement to plead guilty to bribery and bank fraud charges. Several conversations between White and the informant were recorded in a parked car wired for video and audio, including outside White’s home, prosecutors say.

At one meeting, White and the informant discussed contracts the informant had with the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. The informant asked White if the contracts would be renewed and said he had $15,000 cash.

Initially, White asked, “What you need me to do, man? I don’t, I don’t wanna feel like you gotta gimme something to get something. We better than that.”

Then he tucked the envelope with the cash into his jacket pocket, prosecutors say.

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