FBI Arrests Democrat D.C. Councilmember
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has confirmed that Councilmember Trayon White, a Democrat, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigations on Sunday afternoon.
DC Councilman @trayonwhite has been arrested by federal authorities according sources @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/jDhAY3ys64
— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) August 18, 2024
Mendelson told local outlet Fox 5 that he is unsure of the reason for White’s arrest at this time. He is still waiting to learn the charges, as well as where White was taken into custody. The council president further reported that the arrest occurred at about 2 p.m., and expressed overall shock as he was unaware of any active investigation into Mr. White
“I’m anxious to get more details to understand what the situation is,” Mendelson told FOX 5. “You all know as much as I know.”
White, who has represented Ward 8 since 2016, became the subject of controversy earlier this year when the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance imposed a $20,000 fine on him and his campaign treasurer.
In addition to the fine, White reportedly owed nearly $59,000 in public funds received through the D.C. Fair Elections Program, which was launched with the intention of providing “public financing for campaigns, requires rigorous auditing and reporting,” according to a report from the Washington Informer.
White has faced a number of additional campaign finance issues in recent years. Over the last two election cycles, a time period in which White launched an unsuccessful mayoral bid, White’s campaigns have been flagged for multiple instances of noncompliance with city code due to incomplete financial records, the Washington Informer reported.
“In the absence of a complete list of financial records and documentation necessary to fully conduct the Audit, the Audit Staff cannot exhaustively substantiate the information contained in the Trayon White for Mayor 2022 Reports of Receipts and Expenditures,” reads an audit of White’s campaign finances.
This is a developing story.
