A federal judge declared a mistrial Monday in the bribery case against Washington, D.C. Council member Trayon White Sr., who was accused of accepting cash bribes from a city contractor during secret meetings recorded by the FBI in 2024. The jury reported being unable to reach a unanimous verdict after more than three days of deliberations, leading U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to end the trial without a conviction.
White, a Democrat representing Ward 8 since 2016, has maintained his innocence since his arrest in August 2024. His defense team argued he was framed by Allieu Kamara, a confidential FBI informant who previously supported White’s political campaigns. Kamara pleaded guilty to bribery and bank fraud conspiracy and cooperated with federal investigators.
Prosecutors charged White with accepting $35,000 from Kamara, who was acting undercover while representing firms that had obtained city contracts for violence-interruption services in multiple wards. White allegedly agreed to use his influence to help secure the renewal of contracts worth millions, with his share of the bribe expected to total $156,000, or three percent of the contracts. Videotape evidence showed White receiving envelopes of cash during several meetings in 2024 and discussing how to apply pressure on D.C. officials to push the contract renewals.
During the trial, videos played for jurors depicted White’s interactions with Kamara, including a moment when White pocketed $15,000 cash while expressing discomfort about the nature of the exchanges. Kamara testified that White repeatedly requested money and described the council member as having a serious gambling problem. However, White declined to testify in his own defense, and his attorneys did not dispute his receipt of the money but argued that no crime occurred because White never intended to influence officials on Kamara’s behalf. Several D.C. officials testified they were never pressured by White in relation to the contracts.
Legal experts noted that recent Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope for convicting public officials on bribery charges, emphasizing intent to perform a specific official act in exchange for payment. Jurors reportedly struggled with the fact that White appeared not to have acted on the alleged agreement despite receiving cash, contributing to the deadlock.
Following the mistrial announcement, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the government would retry the case before a new jury, underscoring the existence of video evidence showing cash exchanges. White expressed gratitude to his supporters and said he plans to refocus on serving his constituents, highlighting ongoing work related to the city’s $20 billion budget.
Since his federal charges, the D.C. Council had voted unanimously to expel White, though he later won back his seat in a special election. He has been barred from council committee leadership roles but some members advocate for his reinstatement pending the trial's outcome. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson indicated that any changes to White’s committee assignments will await the final resolution of the legal case.
Community leaders expressed mixed sentiments following the mistrial, with some emphasizing the need for unity in Ward 8 while acknowledging the continuing uncertainty surrounding White’s legal status. The FBI’s broader investigation, involving Kamara’s activities, also uncovered allegations of bribery and fraud linked to federal pandemic relief funds.
The complicated legal and political developments surrounding the case have highlighted challenges prosecutors face in corruption cases involving public officials, particularly where questions of intent and direct official acts arise.