Democratic Politician Says FBI Wants To Kill Him
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Washington, D.C., Ward 8 council member Trayon White said Friday during a swearing-in ceremony that he believes the FBI not only sought to arrest him but also to kill him.
Newsweek reached out to White and the FBI via email for comment.
Why It Matters
White's return to the D.C. Council occurred while he continued to face a federal bribery investigation and a criminal trial scheduled for January 2026. His public claim that the FBI wanted to kill him injected new controversy into a case already touching on public trust in law enforcement and local governance.
The claim also arrived amid a broader national backdrop in which elected officials have publicly accused the FBI of politically motivated actions, a pattern that has drawn bipartisan attention and scrutiny.
Ward 8 council member Trayon White speaks during a rally to restore funding for child care organized by child care providers and parents at the John A. Wilson Building on May 3, 2024, in Washington....
Ward 8 council member Trayon White speaks during a rally to restore funding for child care organized by child care providers and parents at the John A. Wilson Building on May 3, 2024, in Washington. Morefor Under 3 DC
What To Know
White won a special election this summer and the Board of Elections certified his victory unanimously before he was sworn in on Friday, according to local ABC affiliate WJLA.
"You know the FBI is after me, you know, but I believe that you know, not just arrest me, but you know, but I believe they want to kill me," White said during his remarks, describing an interaction in which he said a homeowner who hosted a meeting later reported an FBI knock at their door.
"So this tell you, they ain't nothing light," White continued. "Fear and God cannot occupy the same space. You're gonna have one or the other."
White was removed from the D.C. Council earlier this year amid allegations tied to a federal bribery investigation. The removal followed an indictment for allegedly taking thousands of dollars in bribes, according to NBC Washington.
He has pleaded not guilty. Preliminary evidence reportedly includes videos of him pocketing cash-stuffed envelopes from a city contractor, allegedly in return for securing lucrative city contracts.
The city's Board of Ethics and Accountability also alleged that White failed to file required public financial disclosure statements for 2024 and 2025, according to WJLA.
Those running against White in the summer included Salim Adofo, Mike Austin and Sheila Bunn—all with experience working as staffers for D.C. Council members or in the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
What People Are Saying
Trayon White on Friday: "Throughout this journey for me it's been a lot of trial and tribulations, not just running for re-election twice within a year's time, but just life in general. It's been a tough season, to say the least. I assure you, Ward 8, you got a champion in me. You got a warrior in me. You got a fighter in me. You got love in me."
Sam P.K. Collins, a reporter for The Washington Informer newspaper based in Ward 8, to NBC Washington: "Former Councilmember Trayon White really talks about the investments that he says he has helped bring to Ward 8, he has experience in collaborating with other councilmembers, and he's telling constituents that the job is not done yet, in terms of just making Ward 8 better."
What Happens Next
White's federal criminal trial is scheduled to begin in January 2026. The D.C. Council retains authority to consider expulsion again depending on the outcome of legal proceedings.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
15 minutes ago
- The Hill
Intelligence community mourns death of former FBI, CIA Director William Webster
The intelligence community reacted to the death of William H. Webster, the first and only official to lead both the FBI and CIA, commending him for his public service. Webster, according to a statement from his family, died Friday at the age of 101. 'The proud and loving family of the Honorable William H. Webster sadly announces the death of a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and patriot,' the family wrote. Former FBI Director Chris Wray, in his first statement since leaving the bureau, called the late director a 'giant' in the legacy of the community. 'He was, in every sense, a giant — not only in the history of our nation's security, but in the hearts of all who believe in public service grounded in integrity and principle,' Wray said in a statement, according to The Associated Press. The FBI, in post on social platform X, said the nation would be 'forever grateful' to Webster. 'We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and former colleagues,' the agency wrote. 'Judge Webster's unwavering commitment to justice leaves a lasting legacy. We are forever grateful for his service to our nation.' Webster, after spending time in the U.S. Navy and working as a federal judge, was tapped by former President Carter to lead the FBI, where he spent nine years shaping the bureau. Under former Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, he helmed the CIA. 'Judge Webster had the respect and confidence of several Presidents from both parties, including my father and me,' former President George W. Bush wrote in a post shared to X. 'His passion for the rule of law and for the greatness of America made him a model public servant — and earned him the unique distinction of being the only person to have directed both the CIA and FBI.' 'I am grateful for this good man's many contributions to our country, and I send my condolences to Lynda and his family,' he added. While at the CIA, Webster helped navigate the Iran-Contra controversy with patience and peace in mind, according to the AP. 'Whatever the outcome, I am convinced that the most important ingredient is professional respect and mutual trust. No laws can make these happen,' Webster said of the scandal at the time. His words have reverberated throughout the intelligence community decades later as the Trump administration faced push back over President Trump's nominations of Kash Patel to lead the FBI and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), who has since joined the GOP, as the director of national intelligence. Webster heavily lobbied against both candidates. 'While Mr. Patel's intelligence and patriotism are commendable, his close political alignment with President Trump raises serious concerns about impartiality and integrity,' Webster wrote. 'Statements such as 'He's my intel guy' and his record of executing the president's directives suggest a loyalty to individuals rather than the rule of law—a dangerous precedent for an agency tasked with impartial enforcement of justice.' He also criticized Gabbard for a 'profound lack of experience,' which earned a harsh response from the president. Wray, who retired from the FBI after Trump's return to the Oval Office, said despite past tensions, Webster's legacy would live on. 'His legacy will endure—not only in the institutions he guided, but in the generations of public servants he inspired to carry the torch forward,' the former director said.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
DOJ seeks to unseal Epstein, Maxwell grand jury records
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department sought to unseal grand jury exhibits and testimony from its cases against deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, but with redactions to protect victims. The exhibits from the Epstein and Maxwell cases must be 'subject to appropriate redactions of victim-related and other personal identifying information,' reads the Aug. 8 filing signed by Jay Clayton, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. 'As there are parties whose names appear in the grand jury exhibits but did not appear in the grand jury transcripts, the Government is undertaking to notify such parties to the extent their names appear in grand jury exhibits that were not publicly admitted at the Maxwell trial (and they were not already notified in connection with the request to unseal the grand jury transcripts),' Clayton wrote. 4 The Department of Justice moved Friday to unseal grand jury exhibits and testimonies from its prosecutions of deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Clayton, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, asked Manhattan US District Judge Richard Berman in the court document to hold off on unsealing the filings until after Aug. 14, while the parties are notified. It's unclear who may be involved. In a July 6 memo, President Trump's DOJ and FBI revealed that Epstein's sickening crimes impacted more than 1,000 victims. On Monday, two of them blasted the Justice Department over its handling of the case. 4 President Trump ordered 'credible' grand jury material to be released on July 17 after his administration faced backlash for putting out a memo stating that there was no evidence indicating third parties would be charged. REUTERS 'I am not sure the highest priority here is the victims, justice for the victims or combating child exploitation,' one letter submitted by a victim in Manhattan federal court stated. '… Rather, I feel like the DOJ's and FBI's priority is protecting the 'third-party,' the wealthy men by focusing on scrubbing their names off the files.' The other victim's letter blasted the feds after Blanche met with Maxwell last month — before her unexplained transfer from a Florida federal jail to a Texas minimum-security facility. 4 Much of the Epstein-Maxwell exhibits have already been made public on dockets following the July 2019 arrest of Epstein — who committed suicide in his Manhattan jail cell on Aug. 10 of that year before heading to trial. AP 'I wish you would have handled and would handle the whole 'Epstein Files' with more respect towards and for the victims,' the letter read. 'I am not some pawn in your political warfare. 'What you have done and continue to do is eating at me day after day as you help to perpetuate this story indefinitely.' Much of the Epstein-Maxwell exhibits have already been made public on dockets following the July 2019 arrest of Epstein — who committed suicide in his Manhattan jail cell on Aug. 10 of that year before heading to trial — and the arrest and 2021 conviction of Maxwell. 4 The British socialite had been serving a 20-year sentence in a Tallahassee federal detention center for conspiring with Epstein in sex trafficking young girls. REUTERS The British socialite had been serving a 20-year sentence in the low security FCI Tallahassee prison for conspiring with Epstein in sex trafficking young girls. Trump ordered Bondi to release 'credible' grand jury material on July 17 after his administration faced backlash for producing the brief, two-page memo on its 'systematic review' of Epstein's case that determined there was no evidence indicating third parties would be charged. It also revealed no 'client list' existed of influential and wealthy Epstein associates — despite the disgraced financier having enjoyed close relationships with attorneys, academics, businessmen, politicians and Hollywood stars. Last week, former President Bill Clinton — who received political donations from Epstein — was subpoenaed by a Republican-led House panel for a deposition as part of a parallel investigation.
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Trump takes on DC: What's next in the battle?
President Trump has moved to increase the number of federal law enforcement on the streets of Washington D.C. — a decision he casts as necessary to combat crime. It's a move widely seen as a rebuke to the District's leadership, including Mayor Muriel Bowser (D). A lot of specifics are as yet undecided, including the total number of additional federal law enforcement officers who will be deployed, and their exact locations. The White House cited security concerns as the reason not to divulge those details. However, White House officials say that an increased law enforcement presence will be seen on D.C.'s streets. This is expected to be present mainly late at night. The effort is being spearheaded by the U.S. Park Police but also involves numerous other agencies including the Capitol Police, the FBI, the Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that while Washington is 'an amazing city' it 'has been plagued by violent crime for far too long.' She also said that Trump was 'committed' to making D.C. 'safer for its residents, lawmakers and visitors from all around the world.' The idea of a crime crisis in Washington is belied by crime statistics from the city police, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Those statistics show violent crime so far this year down 26 percent from its 2024 levels. The crime levels in 2024 were, in turn, lower than in 2023. The key question now is, what's next? Does Trump extend the use of federal law enforcement? A White House official describes the current push as one that will 'be beginning as a 7-day effort with the option to extend as needed.' The framing invites a number of other questions —particularly, what difference are federal law enforcement personnel likely to make in a week? The situation in D.C., after all, is not one where there is a riotous situation to quell or widespread disorder stemming from any specific cause. The haziness around the objectives may make a further extension of the federal role more likely. Trump would, presumably, justify such a move on the basis that there was still more work to be done. But multiple reports from the hours after Trump's announcement, when there was supposed to be an increased federal law enforcement presence, did not reveal anything out of the ordinary. An Associated Press report, for example, noted that 'a two-hour tour of the D.C. streets, starting around 1 a.m. Friday, revealed no evidence of the sort of multi-agency flood of uniformed personnel described in Trump's announcement.' Could Trump take over the D.C. police? The short answer is, yes. The bigger question is whether he would want to do so. The District enjoys its current measure of autonomy because of the Home Rule Act of 1973. The legislation reserves some powers for Congress and for the president. Section 740 of the Act notes that if a President 'determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist,' then the D.C. mayor must lend him 'such services of the Metropolitan Police Force as the President may deem necessary and appropriate.' There are some caveats to this power, however. In the first instance, a president cannot take over those powers for longer than 48 hours unless, during that period, he provides a written explanation of his reasons to Congress — or, more specifically, to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate and House committees that pertain to D.C. Trump, however, could likely satisfy this requirement, given the GOP majorities in both chambers. The more salient constraint, therefore, might be the fact that there is a 30-day limit on this power, even if congressional notification is provided. Politically speaking, there is also a question of whether Trump would want to make such a dramatic move. Washington is a very Democratic city — Vice President Harris got more than 90 percent of the vote last November — and reaction to Trump seizing the reins of the local police would surely be negative. How about the National Guard? Here, again, Trump has lots of remove to maneuver. The District of Columbia National Guard can be directed at the behest of the president, in contrast to full states where the power to deploy the Guard resides with the governor. The D.C. National Guard has been at pains to point out that it has not, as yet, been deployed. A spokesperson for the D.C. Guard told CNN on Friday that the force has not been activated and that any 'presence of National Guardsmen and vehicles seen this week and throughout the weekend are related to required training.' What could go wrong? Quite a lot. For a start, Trump could get into more of a pitched battle with Bowser. The mayor has pursued a much more conciliatory approach toward Trump during his second term than she did during his first. She has been supportive of a task force he set up in March and has refrained from comment on his latest moves. That's partly a testament to D.C.'s dependence upon the federal government in numerous ways. Congress in effect withheld $1.1 billion from the District's budget earlier this year. The federal workforce is of enormous economic importance to the overall D.C. area. But whether Bowser can remain quiet if Trump expands his control over D.C. is highly questionable. Washingtonians are already sensitive about their circumscribed rights. There are more macabre things that could go wrong too. Any especially egregious violent crime could make Trump more insistent on federal control. Conversely, any excessive force used against D.C. residents by federal personnel deployed by Trump could ignite new tensions. Can Trump repeal Home Rule itself? Realistically, no. Doing this would require repealing the legislation. The House might go along with that, but Trump would need 60 votes in the Senate. Even if every Republican voted in favor, he would still need the backing of seven Democrats — a highly unlikely scenario.
