Washington, DC Councilman Trayon White has been accused by federal prosecutors of participating in a bribery scheme in order to keep government contracts flowing to two companies. According to court documents, White allegedly accepted envelopes filled with thousands of dollars in cash as well as kickbacks. The scheme involved White receiving kickbacks from city contracts related to violence intervention services in DC, totaling $156,000 in cash or 3% of the contracts’ value.
White, who represents southeast DC, was arrested by the FBI and is set to appear in federal court in DC. The alleged bribery scheme was carried out through recorded conversations with a local businessman who had contracts with the DC government and had pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges. In these conversations, White indicated a need for money and accepted envelopes filled with cash from the informant in exchange for pushing city officials towards specific contracts that would benefit his businesses.
In one recorded conversation, White was heard asking the informant what they needed from him, expressing a desire not to feel pressured to give something in order to receive something. Despite this, White accepted envelopes filled with thousands of dollars in cash from the informant. White allegedly boasted about his influence, claiming that he had a significant voice in violent prevention initiatives and on the Council. He also discussed using his position of power as a councilman to pressure government employees to support him, threatening to only support them if they supported him.
The court documents detailed conversations between White and the informant where they discussed White’s ability to leverage his influence as a councilman to pressure government employees to support him. White recounted instances where he told government employees that the only way he would support them was if they supported him in return. These conversations were recorded as part of the ongoing investigation into the bribery scheme involving White and the local businessman with government contracts.
Trayon White’s alleged involvement in the bribery scheme to use his elected position to secure government contracts has raised serious concerns about political corruption in Washington, DC. The recorded conversations between White and the informant shed light on the extent of White’s willingness to accept cash and kickbacks in exchange for influencing city contracts. The investigation into this matter will likely have significant implications for White’s political career and the integrity of the city’s government contracting processes.
The scheme orchestrated by White involved receiving kickbacks from multimillion-dollar city contracts related to violence intervention services in DC. As White faces charges of bribery and corruption, his arrest and upcoming court appearance have brought to light the challenges of maintaining ethical standards in government positions. The recordings of White accepting envelopes filled with cash and making agreements with the informant highlight the lengths to which some politicians may go to exploit their positions for personal gain. The consequences of these actions will undoubtedly impact White’s reputation and the trust that constituents have in their elected officials.
