Trayon White's bribery trial will be D.C.'s biggest courtroom drama in years
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D.C. Council member Trayon White. Photo: Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images
Council member Trayon White's federal bribery trial begins Monday, two years after his arrest rocked D.C.
Why it matters: D.C.'s biggest corruption case in more than a decade could put city officials and contractors on the witness stand and cost White the seat he won back last year.
The big picture: White was charged in August 2024 with taking $35,000 in cash from a businessman working as an FBI informant in exchange for helping him win government contracts.
- Prosecutors also allege White ultimately agreed to accept $156,000 in kickbacks.
- White has pleaded not guilty. His defense: He took the money, but it wasn't a bribe. That's what his lawyers plan to argue, NBC4 reports.
Between the lines: White has a history of controversy. He drew national attention years ago after espousing antisemitic conspiracy theories about the weather — and the run-up to his trial has already produced drama.
- Case in point: Earlier this month, the Department of Justice accused White of jury tampering.
- The accusation came after White posted an Instagram video calling on more Black residents — traditionally underrepresented in jury duty — to serve as jurors. His right to a "fair trial and a fair shake" was at risk, he said.
Zoom out: This being President Trump's DOJ adds to the potential for courtroom drama at a time when Republicans continue to challenge D.C.'s right to self-governance.
- Among those expected to be called to testify is Lindsey Appiah, the Bowser administration's deputy mayor for public safety, per City Cast.
Reality check: White has already been sidelined in City Hall.
- He was expelled from the council last year over the bribery allegations, only for Ward 8 voters to elect him back months later. His colleagues long ago voted to remove him from any committees.
- Council member Charles Allen said on WAMU's "Politics Hour" on Friday that he doesn't expect the trial to overshadow the council's return from summer break this week. White is already "isolated," Allen said.
What's ahead: Jury selection is expected to continue through Monday, pushing back the original trial start date by at least a day.