Jury selection resumes in federal bribery case against DC Councilmember Trayon White

The federal bribery trial of Ward 8 Council member Trayon White is set to get underway this week in a case that has had ripple effects on the D.C. White faces one federal bribery count and has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors accuse White of accepting $35,000 in bribes during the summer of 2024 in return for using his position as a D.C.

council member to help a businessman keep or extend his contracts with the city. Jury selection is still underway in the case and is expected to continue Monday, with opening statements to follow once a jury is seated. Related stories Preparations are underway for DC Council member Trayon White’s bribery trial DC Council member Trayon White censured, fined for missing financial disclosures DC Council member Trayon White’s bribery trial now set for September In court documents, prosecutors have said they plan to lay out their case over five days.

Among the witnesses is the businessman who was identified as a confidential source for the FBI in the case. Prosecutors plan to use recordings during which they claim White accepted cash in envelopes as part of the alleged scheme. Court documents say all four of the alleged 2024 cash payments were recorded while the confidential source was secretly cooperating with the FBI and White was unaware of that cooperation.

Prosecutors also allege White agreed to accept roughly $156,000 in kickbacks, representing a 3% cut of the government contracts. The prosecution plans to use text and WhatsApp messages while laying out its case against White. The defense is expected to take aim at the FBI investigation and its use of a confidential source who, according to court documents, agreed to work with investigators as part of a plea deal in a separate case against him.

The defense could also make an argument of entrapment, while arguing that even if White took the money, prosecutors still have to prove it was part of a corrupt agreement in which White agreed to use his official position in exchange for the money. In a previous ruling, the judge said certain provisions of the D.C. Council’s Code of Conduct cannot be used by prosecutors to prove White violated an official duty as part of the federal bribery case.

White’s social media posts have also become an issue ahead of trial. In one video, White thanked supporters, encouraged them to attend his trial and ur… Jury selection continues Monday in the federal bribery trial of D.C.