The defense rested Friday in Ward 8 D.C. Council member Trayon White’s federal bribery trial, after a day in court that included testimony from an IRS investigator and former D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine.
Prosecutors appeared to largely wrap up their case, though the government could call an additional witness before closing arguments next week.
White has pleaded not guilty to a single federal bribery charge alleging he accepted $35,000 in cash from businessperson and cooperating witness Allieu Kamara in exchange for helping Kamara-connected companies with D.C. government contracts.
On Friday, during his third and final day of testimony, Kamara maintained the cash payments were part of what he described as an agreement between the two men.
Prosecutors replayed video showing White accepting $15,000 in cash. In the recording, White asks Kamara, “What do you need me to do?”
The defense says Kamara made cash campaign contributions to White in the past, but IRS investigator Siona Slepoy testified she found no record of those contributions in White’s campaign finance filings.
The investigator also testified that by August 2024, White’s checking account had a negative balance and he had just $9 in savings. She then walked jurors through bank records showing large cash deposits into White’s accounts after meetings where prosecutors allege Kamara provided White cash supplied by the FBI. Prosecutors contend the deposits are consistent with the alleged cash payments.
Defense attorneys were critical of the investigator, questioning why she did not look more closely into Kamara’s finances.
One of the government’s final witnesses was Kwelli Sneed, who oversees the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, or ONSE, the agency responsible for violence-intervention programs.
Sneed testified White requested a meeting with her without providing an agenda, describing the request as “weird.” She said White asked about Life Deeds, an organization connected to Kamara that did not operate in Ward 8.
Jurors then heard that White was recorded telling Kamara he told Sneed she needed to support him if she wanted his support for her Council confirmation.
But Sneed testified White never said that to her and never asked her to steer, retain or extend contracts.
Racine was called as defense witness.
Kamara previously testified that he gave White two $10,000 bribe payments in 2019 in an effort to save a contract that was at risk of termination. White is not charged in connection with those allegations.
According to Kamara, Racine had instructed White to “leave Life Deeds alone” and that the situation strained White’s relationship with the attorney general.
“I have absolutely no recollection” of such a conversation, Racine said Friday.
Jurors are not expected to be in court Monday, but attorneys are scheduled to return for a hearing.
With the jury out of the courtroom, the defense raised concerns about the government’s handling of the case and argued prosecutors have not proven White pressured government officials or knew the cash he received was intended as a bribe.
Defense attorney Bruce Searby called the case a “hot mess” assembled in “incredible haste” and argued the FBI’s use of “bait money” among other concerns failed to meet the legal standard for bribery.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Ross pushed back, arguing White “did not have to do an official act” for prosecutors to satisfy the legal requirements of the charge.
Searby ultimately said the defense may consider filing a mistrial motion Monday. Judge Rudolph Contreras also advised attorneys to review a recent court decision to determine whether it could affect the case.
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