A Washington, D.C., councilmember, known for promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories, has been arrested on charges of accepting over $150,000 in bribes in exchange for using his elected position to assist companies with city contracts. Trayon White Sr., a Democrat who ran an unsuccessful mayoral campaign in 2022, was taken into custody on a federal bribery charge by the FBI.
According to court records unsealed on Monday, an FBI agent's affidavit revealed that White agreed to receive approximately $156,000 in kickbacks and cash payments in June. In return, he allegedly pressured government agency employees to extend contracts for violence intervention services for two companies, totaling over $5 million. The affidavit also claims that White accepted a $20,000 bribe payment to help resolve a contract dispute for one of the companies by pressuring high-level district officials.
An FBI informant, who is set to plead guilty to fraud and bribery charges, disclosed providing White with gifts such as travel to the Dominican Republic and Las Vegas, in addition to paying him bribes.
White, who has been a member of the D.C. council since 2017, represents a predominantly Black ward with a poverty rate nearly double that of the overall district. Despite the charges, he is running for re-election in November against a Republican challenger.
White's chief of staff and communication director did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
