D.C. Council recommends expelling Trayon White

The D.C. Council moved one step closer to booting one of its own.

On Monday, the council unanimously voted to support a recommendation that Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) be expelled over allegations that he took thousands of dollars in bribes from a government contractor who was seeking to keep doing business with the city. 

The actual vote on White’s possible expulsion from the city legislature is expected to happen in February, and would require a supermajority of 11 of the 13 members to succeed. Should that come to pass, White would become the first-ever D.C. legislator to be expelled by their colleagues. 

But it could also spark further political uncertainty in Ward 8, which White has represented since 2017 and recently re-elected him to a third term. Even if the council does expel White from office, there’s nothing stopping him from running again in the special election that would be called to fill the seat.

The process against White – known for his strong advocacy for Ward 8 communities – started with a federal indictment in August on bribery charges, which sparked an internal council investigation. The results of that investigation – a 48-page report made public last week – found “substantial evidence” that White had taken bribes from a businessman who held city contracts for violence interruption work, and that White had pressed his case with government officials. 

Under rules approved more than a decade ago during a spate of government scandals, the council can reprimand, censure, or expel members for violating its rules and code of conduct. During a debate on Monday, White’s colleagues repeatedly argued that the allegations against him merited the most severe sanction they could hand down.

“This is quintessential corruption,” said Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. “There is only one remedy to remove the corruption from our body. This incident has damaged the public trust necessary for government to function well. Anything less than expulsion will not rectify the situation.” 

“At the center of all this is a person who has earned the love and respect of many in his community. There's a human being with strengths and weaknesses, a person who, like all of us, should not be defined by one act. It is in that difficult context that we're called upon to protect the confidence and the integrity of our government institutions, and we need to treat that duty with all the gravity it requires,” said Councilmember Matt Frumin (D-Ward 3). 

“It may take some time to rebuild the reputation of this body, as well as the important programs that were implicated in this matter, but I know that we can do it," said Councilmember Christina Henderson (I-At Large). "However, we can't continue as though nothing has happened and make those necessary steps while Councilmember Trayon White remains a member of this body."

In brief comments before the vote, White, who has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, said that none of the people interviewed as part of the council’s investigation said he actually bribed any government officials. He also asked his colleagues to remember that he had recently been re-elected to office.

“Just last month over 20,000 people in Ward 8 decided that they wanted me to be their councilmember,” he said.

White’s supporters have also asked the council to wait until White’s legal process runs its course; he’s currently expected to go on trial in 2026. 

But numerous councilmembers said that White had been given multiple chances to give his side of the story, and that the council operated under a different standard of due process than the courts.

“This is not a criminal court,” said Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large), who chaired the Ad Hoc Committee that oversaw the council’s investigation into White.

McDuffie noted that in 2020, the council had similarly moved to expel former Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans over allegations that he took official actions on behalf of developers and businesses who had paid him consulting fees. In that case, though, Evans resigned before the council could actually expel him. Speaking on Monday, Councilmember Robert White (D-At Large) said he hoped White would do the same.

“It is my hope that Councilmember Trayon White will not see this process to the end, but will resign, seek whatever help he needs, because the work is hard and it is heavy, and all of us, all of us, make mistakes,” he said.

Should White not resign, he will be given the chance to address the charges against him before the council in late January. After that, a vote on expulsion will be scheduled, likely in early February. Should White be expelled, a special election will be called to fill out the remainder of his term in office – and that’s an election he can participate in. Only if convicted of a felony would White be permanently barred from holding office.