WASHINGTON — Councilmember Trayon White, a protégé of the late Mayor Marion Barry, is currently navigating a storm of allegations including corruption charges and a potential council expulsion. As a figure embodying Barry’s defiant spirit, White remains steadfast in his political ambitions despite the challenges looming ahead.
The 40-year-old politician was taken into custody by the FBI last August, accused of accepting substantial bribes in exchange for influencing city contract outcomes. Although his federal trial is scheduled to begin in January 2026, there is emerging evidence indicating that he received cash-filled envelopes from a contractor who has since turned informer.
Remarkably, White’s public image has remained intact despite the serious allegations against him. Just three months after his arrest, he was triumphantly re-elected to a third term, facing only minimal opposition. However, he is now confronted with a vote by his council peers that could lead to his expulsion from office. This would necessitate support from 11 of the remaining 12 council members, and the tone of public comments suggests a challenging road ahead for White.
“This is quintessential corruption,” stated Council Chairman Phil Mendelson in a statement made in December. “There is only one remedy: to remove the corruption from our body. This incident has damaged the public trust necessary for government to function well.”
Should the council decide to expel White, it would set a historic precedent as the first expulsion of a council member in modern times. The last comparable scenario occurred in 2019 when Jack Evans resigned prior to his expected expulsion vote due to multiple ethics charges. Despite the weight of his legal issues, White appears committed to forcing the council to address his expulsion directly.
Ever since his arrest, White has adopted a defiant stance, opting not to cooperate with an internal council investigation that culminated in recommendations for his expulsion. He also remained silent at a recent council hearing, surrounded by supporters who shouted encouragement.
White’s association with the Barry legacy has been profound; he represents Ward 8, the district long held by Barry and notably, the poorest and predominantly Black area in D.C. When a statue of Barry was unveiled outside the D.C. government building in 2018, White staunchly defended Barry against any criticisms on local radio.
His political approach mirrors Barry’s engagement strategy, often seen at various community events and at critical incidents within his ward. “He was trained by Barry, and Barry would do that. He would show up for everything from a birthday or a barbecue to a shooting scene,” commented Robinson Woodward-Burns, a political science expert from Howard University.
In light of current events, the similarities between White and Barry become even more apparent. White’s legal counsel, Frederick D. Cooke Jr., was also Barry’s attorney during his trials, and White has sought to tap into the skepticism that many Black Washingtonians harbor toward the FBI, drawing parallels to Barry’s own encounters with federal scrutiny.
Last week, White attended a council hearing sporting a T-shirt that read, “THE FBI KILLED FRED HAMPTON,” an homage to the slain leader of the Illinois Black Panther Party.
Despite the intense scrutiny he faces, White’s political future may not be extinguished by these challenges. If expelled, he retains the right to participate in a special election to reclaim his council seat, provided he isn’t convicted of a felony before then.
George Musgrove, the author of “Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital,” believes White’s attempts to align himself with Barry’s legacy might be misguided. Musgrove characterized Barry as having an authentic civil rights background, having been a pioneer before entering politics, which helped foster a thriving Black middle class in D.C.
“Trayon wants to play that role, but he’s never built up that history,” Musgrove noted. “So that goodwill is only going to stretch so far.”
Still, Musgrove opined that White could have a fair chance at winning back his position during a special election. Given that voter turnout in non-presidential election years typically remains low in his ward, White could rely on his dedicated voter base, which has been cultivated through Barry’s enduring influence.
“What he learned from Barry is how to cultivate a relatively small but pretty fervent electoral base in a low-turnout ward,” Musgrove elaborated. “He only has to mobilize a couple thousand people.”
