D.C. Council expels Trayon White

Hi everyone,

We're in your inbox with breaking news from The 51st Contributor Martin Austermuhle, reporting on Trayon White's expulsion from the D.C. Council.

The unanimous vote took place this afternoon following White's arrest last year and federal indictment on bribery charges. The vote was a result of an internal council investigation that said there was “substantial evidence” that the three-term councilmember did what federal prosecutors have accused him of: accepting $35,000 in bribes in exchange for helping a D.C. businessman keep and expand his contracts with the city. 

White’s now-former colleagues were unpersuaded by his attorney’s arguments last week that the council’s investigation was unfair and potentially unlawful, nor did they give much credence to a last-minute lawsuit from some of White’s constituents arguing that his expulsion would unconstitutionally deny them representation on the council — especially since he was just re-elected last November. (A judge dismissed the lawsuit on Tuesday.)

“Councilmember Trayon White has been my colleague, I would dare say my friend, for over a decade. He’s been to my home, met my wife and kids … so this vote is not easy. I know how hard he has worked to represent the people of Ward 8,” said At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie.