D.C. City Councilman Trayon White is in deep water, and the best way to keep from drowning is for him to step aside.
The 40-year-old councilmember, who has represented Ward 8 since 2017, was arrested and indicted by authorities on bribery charges in August. White was accused of taking cash payments of over $150,000 in exchange for leveraging government agencies to award contracts to specific companies. Evidence supporting his indictment includes court documents with photos of White receiving envelopes filled with cash and a transcription of him entertaining the idea of future similar dealings. Rejecting the prosecution plea deal, White pled not guilty in September and was removed from his leadership roles in the council. Given the publicly available information and acknowledging that there may be more to the story, it is clear that White has violated the public’s trust. However, White has maintained his reelection campaigns, and he still retains some support in his ward.
If true, White’s actions are inexcusable and cannot be tolerated in Washington’s local government. The recent allegations add White to a longstanding list of malfeasance, including former council members Michael Brown, Harry Thomas, Jr., Jack Evans and most notably, former Mayor Marion Barry.
White has boldly responded to these accusations, insisting he will remain in his position and intends to fight them. While people must fight for their innocence, refusing the plea deal and aggressively rallying around the support of Ward 8 residents displays unnecessary arrogance, especially considering the evidence mounted against him.
In one recording, White explicitly stated that he wanted to continue to profit from corrupt corporate deals, calling the mental health space a “cash cow.” Additionally, taking an envelope filled with cash and suggesting that he will keep profiting off these companies is a disgrace to Washington citizens in numerous ways. First, he is using his power and high position to cheat people in the most economically disenfranchised ward in the city. He violated his oath of office and embarrassed the council he serves. His willingness to profit from illegal activity for his own benefit confirms his unsuitability for public service.
Some Ward 8 residents continue to support White because they feel he is the only candidate who cares about their well-being. In addition to the information available to the public, the Washington council recently announced that they will be using $400,000 to investigate the case privately. Rather than wasting local taxpayers’ money, White must take the plea deal and allow Washington residents to overcome his shortcomings.