JUST IN: Democrat DC Councilman Arrested on Federal Bribery Charges

The Justice Department has announced the arrest of 40-year-old Trayon White Sr., a Democratic DC Councilman, on federal bribery charges that occurred on Sunday.

“The complaint alleges that, beginning in June 2024, White corruptly agreed to accept $156,000 in cash payments in exchange for using his position as a DC Councilmember to pressure government employees at Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) and DYRS to extend several DC contracts,” the DOJ said.

“The contracts at issue were valued at $5.2 million and were for two companies to provide Violence Intervention services in DC. As alleged, the $156,000 White agreed to accept in exchange for using his official position to pressure renewal of those contracts to particular companies was three percent total contract value,” the DOJ said.

Reportedly, video footage captured the bribe.

“According to the complaint, White’s agreement with a confidential human source (the owner of the companies) – including the source’s payment to White of $35,000 in cash on four separate occasion (June 26, July 17, July 25, and August 9, 2024) and the source showing White a document reflecting how White’s three-percent cut was calculated based on those contracts – was captured on video,” the Justice Department said.

NBC News reported:

D.C. Councilmember Trayon White Sr. was arrested on Sunday on federal bribery charges, the Justice Department announced Monday.

A criminal complaint alleges that, starting in June, White agreed to accept $156,000 in cash payments in exchange for leveraging his role as a D.C. councilmember to pressure government employees at the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and DYRS to extend several contracts in the district.

White’s arrest occurred around 2 p.m. Sunday, a spokesperson for the D.C. city council told NBC News. The spokesperson, Lindsey Walton, said the council was not previously aware of an investigation into White.

More on this story from WUSA9:

The arrest of Trayon White Sr. on federal bribery charges is a troubling and disheartening development for the DC Council and the community he was elected to serve.

The allegations of corrupt behavior, including accepting significant cash payments in exchange for using his position to influence government contracts, strike at the heart of public trust and integrity in government officials.

The details outlined by the Justice Department paint a damning picture of White’s actions, with video footage capturing the alleged bribe transactions.

The accusations of leveraging his role as a councilmember to pressure government employees to renew contracts for specific companies further erode confidence in ethical governance.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in public office. It also underscores the need for robust oversight and mechanisms to prevent corruption and unethical behavior among elected officials.

The fact that the DC city council was reportedly not aware of any investigation into White prior to his arrest raises questions about oversight and communication within the council itself.

Ultimately, this incident is a sobering example of the impact that corruption can have on public institutions and underscores the imperative for vigilance in upholding ethical standards in all levels of government.

It is crucial that justice be served swiftly and fairly in this case to uphold the principles of accountability and trust in public service.

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