Last weekend, days after he was formally indicted on federal bribery charges, D.C. Council member Trayon White Sr. stood at the front of Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast Washington — silent and stoic — as a parade of allies and religious leaders showered him with praise and prayer.
White’s future as the Ward 8 council member is uncertain, especially if he is convicted of a felony, which would disqualify him from office.
But Saturday’s prayer service before a packed audience offered a clear illustration of the strength of his support network, despite accusations that White accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to help an associate extend contracts with the D.C. government. Now, in a majority-Black ward where many residents have a complicated relationship with police and the justice system, White appears likely to seek a third term while under indictment.
