The jury in the bribery trial of a D.C. councilmember was not in court Monday because of Yom Kippur, but the judge in the case considered several motions, including a defense motion to dismiss.
Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White is accused of taking $35,000 from a government contractor in exchange for helping secure millions of dollars in contracts. White denies wrongdoing.
At the end of Monday afternoon’s three-hour hearing, the judge removed the public from courtroom to disclose inflammatory allegations about the defendant that may or may not be admitted into the court record.
Councilmember White arrested on bribery charge
FBI agents arrested White Aug. 18, 2024. Prosecutors charged him with one count of bribery.
Surveillance video shows White accepting cash envelopes on four occasions in the summer of 2024 — totaling $35,000. The FBI agent in charge of the investigation testified the federal government had been investigating White since 2023.
After White’s arrest, the D.C. Council voted unanimously to expel him, but he was reelected in a special election. While maintaining his innocence, White also apologized during his swearing in ceremony.
Opening statements and testimony began Sept. 15 in front of a majority-white jury — just weeks after White posted on Instagram encouraging more Black D.C. residents to answer the call for jury duty.
Surveillance video shows alleged bribes
The trial began with the public seeing for the first time the surveillance video of White’s meetings as well as text messages and recorded phone calls with the government’s key witness, Allieu Kamara, White’s long-time friend and a D.C. government contractor who agreed to cooperate with the FBI after pleading guilty to other fraud and bribery charges.
One key piece of evidence is a handwritten note Kamara presented to White laying out $141,000 in kickbacks he’d pay White if white helped him secure certain contracts.
On the second day of the trial, several D.C. government witnesses testified, including Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah. She testified to meeting with White but never being pressured regarding government contracts.
FBI informant testifies over three days
Then the government’s key witness, Kamara, took the stand. He testified over the course of three days about his relationship with White, including an allegation he bribed White in 2019 to influence then-D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine into dropping a lawsuit against Kamara. Racine testified White never talked to him about the case.
Kamara also walked the jury through the videotaped meetings, in which White is heard saying he was putting pressure on government officials to get Kamara’s contracts approved.
On day four, the last day of testimony, an IRS agent testified that during the summer of 2024, when White is accused of taking bribes, his checking account was overdrawn and he had only $9 in his savings account.
Director of Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Kwelli Sneed testified she met with White regarding Kamara’s contracts but that White never pressured her to approve them.
Defense seeks acquittal before jury
Friday ended with both sides resting their cases, and the defense also made a motion for the judge to acquit White, saying the prosecution had not proven its case.
White’s attorney also is considering using a entrapment defense in closing arguments.
The trial could hinge on how the judge defines “bribery” for the jurors in the jury instructions. Is intent to commit an overt act for money count, or did White only have to agree to commit the overt act.
The case could go to the jury Tuesday.
