
White has pleaded not guilty to the bribery charges and has maintained his innocence. Video evidence appeared to show him accepting $156,000 in bribes to use his position on a council committee to influence government contracts. He was reelected in 2024, having won the Democratic primary prior to the indictment.
White became the first person expelled from the council in its history, which spans more than 50 years, despite other members being embroiled in ethics controversies throughout its existence.
White resisted stepping down from his seat, even after an ad hoc committee unanimously recommended expulsion in December 2024. He took his seat in January despite the looming threat of expulsion, offering a vague apology at the time.
“This morning, I want to say that I apologize to my city, and I love my city to the core of who I am,” White said. “I’m not a perfect man, but if you get to know me, you know that I’m a good man.”
Following the vote recommending White’s expulsion, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson called White’s actions “quintessential corruption” and called for him to be removed from office.
“There is only one remedy: to remove the corruption from our body,” Mendelson said at the time. “This incident has damaged the public trust necessary for government to function well. Anything less than expulsion will not rectify the situation.”
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A special election to fill the seat for Ward 8 vacated by White will be held in the coming months.
Despite being expelled on Tuesday, White would still be able to run for his seat again if he chooses to. The trial for his federal bribery charge is scheduled for January 2026.