D.C. Councilmember Trayon White Sr., a Democrat with a history of promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories, is in hot water after federal authorities accused him of accepting over $150,000 in bribes. Court records unsealed on Monday allege that White, who failed in his bid for mayor in 2022, used his influence to pressure D.C. employees into extending contracts for violence intervention services, worth over $5 million, in exchange for hefty kickbacks, as reported by the Associated Press.
White, 40, was arrested on Sunday and made a brief court appearance on Monday, where he was released from custody. His attorney has remained tight-lipped about the charges. According to an FBI affidavit, White agreed to take approximately $156,000 in cash and other payments as a reward for pushing two companies’ contracts through the system. The affidavit also claims White pocketed a $20,000 bribe to help one of the companies resolve a contract dispute by putting pressure on high-ranking district officials.
The FBI’s investigation was fueled by an informant who pled guilty to fraud and bribery charges. The informant admitted to showering White with gifts, including trips to the Dominican Republic and Las Vegas, alongside the bribes. Meanwhile, White’s chief of staff and spokesperson have stayed silent, ignoring requests for comment.
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During his court appearance, White, placed his hand over his heart and acknowledged his supporters. One supporter, overcome with emotion, was seen sobbing in the courtroom gallery. Though White answered the judge’s routine questions, he kept mum about the allegations. The magistrate judge cautioned White that any violation of his release conditions could land him in jail before trial.
White, who has been serving on the D.C. Council since 2017, represents a predominantly Black ward plagued by high poverty rates. As he gears up for a re-election campaign in November, he faces a Republican challenger. White’s political career has been controversial, to say the least. He was a protégé of the infamous former Mayor Marion Barry and has been involved in various scandals.
Back in 2018, White found himself in hot water for posting a video on Facebook suggesting that an unexpected snowfall was caused by the Rothschild family controlling the weather—a classic antisemitic conspiracy theory. At the time, White claimed ignorance of the theory’s antisemitic roots, but his involvement in spreading such rhetoric has only added to his tarnished reputation.
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