(ProsperNews.net) – A Washington, D.C., councilmember who has made some bizarre claims was charged last week for taking bribes in exchange for his political influence over local government employees by pressuring them into giving multi-million dollar contracts to organizations helping underprivileged youth and promoting violence prevention.
Democratic councilmember Trayon White Sr. was arrested on Sunday, Aug. 18, on charges of federal bribery. Several FBI agents arrived at his luxury Navy Yard apartment and walked White out in cuffs.
On Monday, Aug. 19, White appeared in federal court and was charged with accepting bribes for political favors. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), White took “$156,000 in cash payments” starting in June 2024. The payments were made to buy White’s influence as a D.C. Councilmember, a position he is accused of using to put pressure on government employees working in the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) and the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE).
The pressure was intended to influence those employees to extend contracts “valued at $5.2 million” for two companies that “provide Violence Intervention services” in the nation’s capital.
White was caught because the person who facilitated the payments to White, who owned the company offering the bribes, worked as a confidential source for the FBI. The source recorded all their interactions, including the four occasions when White accepted $35,000 in cash, which was caught on video.
Because of the contracts involved that would be awarded soon and “other potential official acts” in government that may be taken, US Attorney Matthew Graves said his office has to take “swift steps” by arresting White and addressing the crimes still under investigation.
After White’s arraignment, he was released on bail. If convicted, the council member could serve 15 years behind bars. Authorities also made him turn over his passport to prevent him from leaving the country and if he wants to leave D.C. he must notify the court.
The Democratic council member also raised eyebrows with some questionable remarks online indicating he believes the wealthy Jewish family the Rothschilds are “controlling the climate” to manufacture natural disasters.
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