D.C. Councilman Trayon White Sr. Faces Mistrial in Bribery Case

<p>D.C. Councilman Trayon White Sr. will have another opportunity in court after a federal jury was unable to reach a verdict in his bribery case. This occurred despite prosecutors presenting secretly recorded video evidence showing White accepting envelopes of cash from an FBI informant.</p><p>U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras declared a mistrial on Monday after jurors deliberated for over three days and reported that further discussions had only “cemented” their views.</p><p>White, a Democrat representing Ward 8, remains under indictment. D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that prosecutors plan to retry the case. “We have video showing piles of cash being given to a D.C. councilmember as part of a $156,000 bribe,” Pirro said in a statement. “Rest assured that we will retry this case and every corruption case to verdict.”</p><p>The case involved $35,000 in cash that White accepted from D.C. contractor Allieu Kamara during a series of meetings in 2024. Kamara was acting as a confidential FBI informant at the time, and the FBI recorded the meetings. Prosecutors presented approximately 87 minutes of footage to the jury, showing White and Kamara discussing city contracts and White accepting cash during four meetings. A fifth recording captured White’s arrest outside his Navy Yard condominium.</p><p>In one recording, White reportedly stated, “I don’t want to feel like you got to give me something to get something done, man,” while accepting an envelope containing $15,000. Kamara testified that the payments were part of an agreement for White to assist Kamara’s companies in renewing millions of dollars in city contracts for violence-interruption services. Prosecutors indicated that White was expected to receive $156,000, or 3% of the contracts.</p><p>White’s defense did not dispute that he accepted the $35,000 but argued that he did not intend to pressure city officials on Kamara’s behalf, thus claiming he did not commit bribery. Defense attorney Gary Kohlman told jurors during closing arguments, “Trayon White actually did nothing.”</p><p>Jurors inquired whether it constituted bribery if the defendant received money to perform an official act but had no intention of fulfilling the agreement. The judge informed them that it did not.</p><p>Three D.C. officials testified that White did not pressure them to renew the contractor’s agreements. However, prosecutors highlighted recorded conversations where White indicated he would not support the full-time confirmation of a city official unless she backed his initiatives.</p><p>The prosecution's key witness was Kamara, who had pleaded guilty to bribery and bank-fraud conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with the FBI. Defense attorneys questioned his credibility, citing his motivations to assist prosecutors after his own criminal conduct.</p><p>Agents equipped Kamara’s Cadillac Escalade with hidden recording devices and provided the cash used in the meetings, according to trial testimony.</p><p>White has consistently maintained his innocence since his arrest in August 2024, claiming he was framed by an informant who had previously contributed to his political campaigns.</p><p>Following the mistrial, White expressed satisfaction with the outcome but acknowledged that the case is not concluded. “Victory is mine, saith the Lord,” White stated. “The jury was unable to reach a verdict, and the judge has declared a mistrial. I maintain my innocence.”</p><p>White also noted that “the legal process is not over,” while emphasizing his commitment to serving Ward 8 residents. The case has already had political repercussions for White, as the D.C. Council voted 12-0 to expel him in February 2025, although he later regained his seat in a special election. He has remained excluded from council committees and leadership positions while the case was pending.</p><p>Council member Elissa Silverman remarked that the jury's inability to reach a verdict should be respected but cautioned that the case has undermined public confidence in city government. “The legal standard of proof needed in court is not the threshold in the court of public opinion, however,” Silverman stated. “We have to recognize the impact this case has had on the reputation of our government and the public’s trust in our actions.”</p><p>For now, White retains his position on the D.C. council and remains under federal indictment. The bribery case will proceed unless prosecutors decide against retrying him.</p>