DC councilman arrested in alleged $156,000 bribery scheme to push violence prevention contracts for kickbacks

By Hannah Rabinowitz and Holmes Lybrand, CNN

(CNN) — Washington, DC, Councilman Trayon White allegedly engaged in a bribery scheme to use his elected position to keep government contracts flowing to two companies, federal prosecutors say, accepting envelopes with thousands of dollars in cash and lucrative kickbacks.

White, who represents southeast DC, was arrested by the FBI Sunday and appeared in court briefly on Monday, where he did not enter a plea.

As part of the alleged bribery scheme, White would get kickbacks from multimillion-dollar city contracts related to violence intervention services in DC. All told, White agreed to take $156,000 in cash for his work – or 3% percent of the contracts’ value, prosecutors allege.

The scheme played out in recorded conversations, prosecutors said in court documents. White made the alleged agreements with a local businessman who had contracts with the DC government. That man, unbeknownst to White, had pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges and was working with law enforcement.

White’s office released a statement acknowledging the criminal complaint.

“We recognize the seriousness of this matter. We want to assure Ward 8 residents and stakeholders that our office remains fully operational and steadfast in our commitment to serving the public,” the statement said.

White repeatedly indicated to the informant that he needed money, according to recordings cited in court documents, saying that he was “hurting.” The recordings described in court filings also show that the informant offered White thousands of dollars in cash to push city officials toward specific contracts that would benefit his businesses, and to brainstorm additional contracts that they could try to acquire in the future.

In one conversation, White was recorded asking the informant what they needed from him.

“I don’t, I don’t wanna feel like you gotta gimme something to get something. We better than that,” White said, before taking an envelope filled with thousands in cash from the informant.

The councilman allegedly boasted about his influence, telling the informant that “I’m a huge voice when it comes to violent prevention and the Council” and that “I got great weight when it comes to violence” initiatives.

The two also discussed how White would use his position of power as a councilman to pressure government employees to “support” him, according to court documents. White recounted some of those conversations in recorded conversations with the informant, in one instance saying that he told a government employee: “The only way I’m gonna support you, if you support me.”

During Monday’s hearing, White entered the room, bowed his head with hands clasped and sat down with his attorney.

The courtroom was packed with supporters of White – some wearing White’s campaign shirts and facemasks – many of whom had copies of the criminal complaint and read it together, pointing out different parts in hushed tones.

White was released Monday following the hearing and is scheduled for a status conference on September 19. Both White and his attorney declined to comment on the charges.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that a criminal complaint was the type of court document filed.

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