Preparations are underway for DC Council member Trayon White’s bribery trial – WTOP News
Preparations are underway for DC Council member Trayon White’s bribery trial – WTOP News # Preparations are underway for DC Council member Trayon White’s bribery trial By John Domen September 8, 2026 | 4:58 PM Preparations are underway ahead of the bribery trial of D.C.
wtop.com · John Domen · September 8, 2026
Preparations are underway for DC Council member Trayon White’s bribery trial – WTOP News
# Preparations are underway for DC Council member Trayon White’s bribery trial
By John Domen September 8, 2026 | 4:58 PM
Preparations are underway ahead of the bribery trial of D.C. Council member Trayon White. The Ward 8 council member is accused of taking cash for government contracts, a basic allegation that Judge Rudy Contreras explained to potential jurors brought to the courthouse on Wednesday afternoon.
Several dozen city residents of all ages and races were called to the courthouse to fill out a thick questionnaire, ahead of Friday’s jury selection. This was done to “streamline” the jury selection process on Friday and perhaps on Monday. Those inside the courtroom were told to make sure not to listen or read any coverage about the case. Those brought back on Friday and ultimately selected were told to expect about two weeks of arguments.
The judge also promised not to sequester the jury, meaning they’ll be free to go home on nights and weekends. They were warned not to talk about the case at all with anyone though.
Leading up to this event, prosecutors argued that White had been trying to tamper with the jury when he made a social media post that asked residents east of the river to show up to jury duty if they get called. White’s lawyer dismissed the argument, and so far the judge hasn’t commented on the situation.
There were also a flurry of motions and arguments made over the weekend. Contreras ruled that the government cannot use certain ethical guidelines within the D.C. Council’s Code of Conduct as evidence against White. Contreras agreed that the simple act of taking money without doing anything in return, may violate the council’s code, but could also be just a “quid, but no quo,” as he wrote in the ruling.
Contreras added it’s fine for the council to have that particular code, but that attaching a federal bribery charge to them with 15 years in prison is “a bridge too far.”
That code of conduct was one piece of evidence the government had planned to introduce during the trial. In recent days prosecutors have also documented they intend to introduce a series of videos, and transcriptions of those videos, showing White accepting money. Text messages and financial disclosure forms White filed while on the council are also on the government’s list of exhibits.
On Tuesday, White’s lawyers announced they would be calling a list of eight witnesses who will testify on his behalf. Five of them are listed as character witnesses who will attest to his honesty. But other witnesses include an FBI agent and an agent with the city’s inspector general office.
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