As reported by The Washington Post, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Trayon White Sr., a Democratic member of the District of Columbia Council representing Ward 8.
White was arrested on Sunday, August 18, 2024. The specifics of the allegations and the reasons for the arrest are still not clear, as neither the FBI nor the U.S. attorney's office in Washington has provided any comments on the issue.
The sudden move against the two-term Southeast Washington leader appeared to catch other city officials off guard. White, who was on track to win a third term in November, is expected to appear in federal court on Monday. The circumstances of his arrest have left many questions unanswered, as officials and colleagues express surprise at the development.
Trayon White Sr. has been serving as the council member for Ward 8 since 2016. Ward 8, located in Southeast Washington, is an area where approximately one-quarter of residents live below the poverty line. The ward has faced challenges related to decades of racism and disinvestment east of the Anacostia River, resulting in frequent incidents of gun violence.
White has built a reputation for his grassroots activism, often appearing at crime scenes to support his community during difficult times. However, his tenure has not been without controversy. In the past, he faced criticism for posting a video that promoted a conspiracy theory about Jews controlling the weather, a statement for which he later apologized.
During his time in office, White has taken unconventional approaches to address issues in his ward. In response to concerns about crime, he once called for the National Guard to intervene in D.C. Two years ago, he launched an unsuccessful mayoral campaign through an Instagram comment, which led to an inquiry from the Office of Campaign Finance.
White's political career has been marked by recent challenges. In the June Democratic primary, he secured victory for his council seat despite facing two challengers. However, his campaign was overshadowed by a dispute with the Office of Campaign Finance regarding his previous political campaigns.
Earlier this year, the office imposed a $40,000 fine on White. The fine was related to discrepancies in the financial reporting of his 2022 mayoral campaign and 2020 reelection campaign. The office cited failures to provide requested documentation to correct discrepancies involving thousands of dollars of reported expenditures and contributions.
One significant issue highlighted by the campaign finance office was $58,000 from White's mayoral campaign, which was reportedly not properly accounted for. As of May, White had appealed the fines associated with his 2020 campaign, while the issues with the 2022 campaign remained unresolved.
The arrest of Councilman White took place in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. According to reports, he was staying in a luxury high-rise apartment building where studio units cost upward of $2,000 per month. Witnesses reported seeing approximately 10 FBI agents outside the building around 2:30 or 3 p.m. on the day of the arrest.
Mike Stock, a resident of the same apartment complex, provided an eyewitness account: "I saw FBI agents making their way into the building carrying cylindrical battering rams." By Sunday evening, there was no visible police presence outside the apartment building. However, a silver Tesla with the license plate "COUNCILMEMBER WARD 8" was spotted next to the high-rise, suggesting a possible connection to White.
Councilman White's arrest has surprised his attorney, Frederick D. Cooke Jr., his campaign treasurer, Antoniese Ruffin, and top city officials. Cooke is trying to contact White to plan their next steps, while Ruffin and city officials were unaware of the investigation prior to the arrest.
In conclusion, D.C. Council member Trayon White Sr. was arrested by the FBI on August 18, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The nature of the allegations against White remains unclear, with both the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office declining to comment. White, who represents Ward 8, was expected to win a third term in November. He is scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday, August 19. The arrest has caught many city officials by surprise, and further details are expected to emerge as the case unfolds.
