A councilmember from Washington, D.C., known for promoting antisemitic theories, has been arrested on bribery charges. Trayon White Sr., a Democrat who previously ran for mayor, was taken into custody by the FBI for allegedly accepting over $150,000 in bribes to influence city contract processes, as revealed in court documents unsealed on Monday. The 40-year-old politician is accused of agreeing to receive kickbacks and cash payments in exchange for leveraging his position to benefit companies vying for government contracts, particularly in violence intervention services totaling more than $5 million.
White is also alleged to have accepted a $20,000 bribe to intervene in a contract dispute for one of the firms by using his influence on district officials. An FBI informant, facing charges of fraud and bribery, disclosed providing White with gifts like travel opportunities to the Dominican Republic and Las Vegas in addition to the reported bribe payments.
Having served on the D.C. council since 2017, White represents a community marked by high poverty levels. Despite the serious allegations, he remains a candidate for re-election in November, facing off against a Republican challenger. So far, White’s chief of staff and communication director have not responded to requests for comment.