On Monday (19 August) DC Councilmember Trayon White was charged with bribery after the FBI arrested him on Sunday (18 August). White is accused of taking $156,000 in “kickbacks and cash payment” according to a federal affidavit.
White was a member of the DC Council in 2019 when it agreed to leglalise single-source digital sports betting. DC Lottery partner Intralot got the wagering contract without a bid process. White was absent the day of that vote, but in June 2024 voted to pass a budget that opened the market.
Throughout the 2024 process, however, stakeholders were unsure how White, who was often absent from meetings, would vote. In the end, he lined up in favour and the budget unanimously passed.
According to a federal affidavit filed Friday and unsealed Monday, White took cash and other bribes to convince city government employees to extend contracts for vendors that would benefit at-risk youth. White, from Ward 8, an impoverished part of the District, has been a champion fo..