Despite the ongoing bribery controversy, former Washington, D.C. Councillor Treion White Sr. reclaimed his position on Tuesday. He had previously been expelled following an FBI arrest and charges against him.
In August 2024, federal bribery charges were brought against White, leading to a unanimous decision by the DC Council to expel him in February. Yet, since he wasn’t convicted of a felony, he was permitted to run in special elections alongside candidates Mike Austin, Sheila Van, and Salim Adfo.
Many thought the charges would be detrimental to his campaign, but, surprisingly, reports indicated that White garnered nearly 29.5% of the vote by the evening. An estimated 12% of local voters had turned up for the election.
In his victory speech, White declared, “We’ve sent a loud and clear message to the DC City Council that Trayon White is here. Because if you fall, we all fall.”
According to the U.S. Power of Attorney Office, White allegedly agreed to receive cash payments totaling $156,000 in exchange for using his position to pressure officials and extend several contracts worth $5.2 million in connection with companies that provide violent intervention services in the city.
Reports also mentioned that White has been meeting with “secret human sources” since June 2024, from which he purportedly accepted multiple payments. The FBI’s arrest affidavit suggested that he was seen on camera during one of these meetings, placing a white envelope containing $15,000 in cash into his jacket pocket.
Investigators indicated that the bribery scheme involved contracts that could be awarded right away and needed immediate attention, prompting swift action from their office.
Before these allegations, White faced criticism for anti-Semitic comments made in 2018, when he implied that Jewish bankers secretly controlled the weather. This backlash stemmed from a Facebook video he posted, leading him to later apologize.
Moreover, he faced scrutiny over a $500 donation to an Islamic event through a community services fund, raising questions about his connections with that organization.
White has pleaded not guilty to the bribery charges, with his trial set to begin in January 2026.
