Trayon White came up in local politics as a direct protege of iconic and infamous former Mayor Marion Barry. Now the D.C. councilmember is openly channeling his mentor's defiant, populist playbook as he fights for survival in the face of a corruption trial and a looming vote by his own peers to kick him off the council.
White, 40, was arrested by the FBI last August on charges 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.
