A federal corruption trial commenced Tuesday for Washington, D.C. Council member Trayon White, who faces a bribery charge for allegedly accepting money from an associate in exchange for using his elected position to help extend city contracts for the associate’s businesses.
A jury in the nation's capital was set to hear opening statements from attorneys in White's trial. White has pleaded not guilty to the charge and denies breaking the law.
Authorities arrested White in 2024, alleging he accepted over $150,000 in bribes. The accusation states he pressured District of Columbia employees to extend contracts for violence intervention services. Investigators reported secretly recording conversations between White and an FBI informant, during which the informant allegedly gave White $35,000 in cash on four separate occasions.
Following White's arrest, other D.C. Council members voted unanimously to remove him from the council. However, he subsequently won a special election last year to reclaim the Ward 8 council seat he had previously occupied before his expulsion.