A law firm hired by the Washington, D.C., Council found “substantial evidence” that Democratic Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White violated council rules by using his office for financial gain.
White was arrested in August on a federal bribery charge that alleged he accepted $156,000 in cash in exchange for agreeing to pressure two D.C. government agencies to renew or extend an associate’s contracts and grants, according to the federal indictment in September.
“The report concludes that there is substantial evidence that Council-member Trayon White engaged in conduct that violated several provisions of the D.C. Code of Conduct, including multiple rules within the D.C. Council’s Code of Official Conduct, with respect to the bribery allegations,” the report, written by Latham & Watkins LLP, said.
The report also concluded that while there was “substantial evidence” linking White to the 10K Hill South apartments located in Ward 6, there was not substantial evidence that he violated the residency requirement for council members by living there (outside of his ward).
White declined to participate in interviews for the investigation and didn’t provide investigators with the documents they requested that involved his case.
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Council members will meet on Monday at 9:30 a.m. to “deliberate on the adoption of the Committee report and consider recommending sanctions based on the findings.”
“The federal charges against Council member Trayon White are deeply disturbing,” D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson wrote previously. “Notwithstanding the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty, the allegations, together with the government’s affidavit, are a gut punch to the public trust in the Council.”
Members of the council could decide to expel White from the council if there is enough evidence that he broke the law. White was reelected to his council seat in November.
