D.C. Democrat Arrested on Bribery Charges After Controversial Comments About Jews

Trayon White Sr., a Democrat D.C. Councilmember who gained notoriety for bizarrely claiming that Jewish bankers control the weather, was arrested on federal charges Monday for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for using his influence to steer lucrative government contracts. The scandal has sent shockwaves through Washington, D.C., raising serious questions about corruption in local government.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), White began accepting bribes in June 2024, totaling $156,000 in cash payments. In return, he allegedly pressured government employees at the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) to award contracts worth $5.2 million to two companies involved in violence prevention services for underprivileged youth.

The FBI revealed that the owner of one of the companies involved in the bribery scheme was actually a confidential human source working with the bureau. The source recorded numerous interactions with White, including four separate instances where White accepted $35,000 in cash. These exchanges were all captured on video, solidifying the case against the councilmember.

White was taken into custody by a large contingent of FBI agents at his luxury apartment in the Navy Yard neighborhood on Sunday. After being arraigned in court, White was released on bail, but he now faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He was also forced to surrender his passport and must notify the court if he intends to leave the city.

U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves emphasized the urgency of the case, noting that the investigation moved quickly to prevent the potential awarding of tainted contracts. “Because the investigation into the alleged bribery scheme involved contracts that could soon be awarded and other potential official acts that could be taken, our Office took swift steps to address the alleged crimes we were investigating,” Graves said.

This isn’t the first time White has made headlines. In 2018, he attracted national attention for a bizarre social media post in which he claimed that Jewish bankers, specifically the Rothschild family, control the weather to create natural disasters and gain control of cities. “Man, it just started snowing out of nowhere this morning, man,” White said in the video. “Y’all better pay attention to this climate control, man, this climate manipulation.” He went on to accuse the Rothschilds of manipulating the climate to "own the cities."

The arrest of Trayon White Sr. highlights not only the ongoing issue of corruption in local government but also the disturbing intersection of power and fringe conspiracy theories. As White awaits trial, the case serves as a reminder of the critical need for integrity and accountability among those elected to serve the public.

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