❌ DC Council expels Trayon White. Here's what's next.

What's CITY Talking About?

Hundreds Protest Musk Outside Treasury

More than 1,000 people, including Democratic lawmakers, gathered in front of the Treasury Building on Tuesday afternoon, protesting against Elon Musk's government influence and alleged access to sensitive information. [WTOP]

USAID's DC Workers Put On Leave

Politico reports that nearly all of the USAID workers based in D.C. are being put on paid administrative leave. A USAID statement released late last night basically guts the organization's global operations effective Friday. [Politico, USAID]

Proud Boys’ Name Belongs To DC Church

A D.C. judge awarded the Proud Boys trademarked name and symbols to a historic Black church in D.C. that its members vandalized. The church won a $2.8 million judgment against the organization in 2023, but the Proud Boys never paid. The trademark lets the church seize any money the Proud Boys make by selling branded merchandise. [New York Times 🔒]

• Related: How MPD Aided the Proud Boys Before Jan. 6 [City Cast DC 🎧]

All Plane Crash Victims Recovered

All 67 victims of last week’s plane collision over the Potomac have been recovered, and all but one have been identified. Crews are still removing the plane wreckage from the water while the FAA investigates the crash. [NBC]

Teenage Girls Sentenced For Disturbing Murder

The last of the five teens convicted of killing the elderly Reggie Brown received the max sentence for her age. The 14-year-old will be held at D.C.’s youth rehabilitation agency until she turns 21. [Washington Post🔒]

• ICYMI: This closes a brutal case where a group of teenage girls beat a disabled man to death in 2023 because they were “bored.” [City Cast DC 🎧]

DC Council Expels Trayon White. Here's What's Next.

Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White has officially been expelled from DC Council for violating the body’s ethics rules. The council unanimously voted in favor of the expulsion, exceeding the 5/6 vote required to pass the motion. We watched the hearing and debriefed it with NBC’s Mark Segraves on today’s City Cast DC podcast.

White was stoic during yesterday’s events, announcing that he was “present” at the start of the meeting, but saying nothing else, even refusing to answer media questions upon exiting. He immediately had to turn in his keys and official cell phone and will be barred from all council matters starting today.

In Case You Missed It

White is facing federal bribery charges for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for influencing contracts at D.C. government agencies. Last month, an ad-hoc council committee unanimously approved the recommendation to expel him following a damning report, which found "substantial evidence" against him.

The former councilmember’s supporters made a last-ditch effort to stop the proceedings yesterday by filing a request for a temporary injunction. But, the motion was quickly denied by a federal judge.

Could White Make a Political Comeback?

A special election must be held in the next 2 to 6 months to elect a new Ward 8 Councilmember. Local politics experts predict White could win again, particularly because tens of thousands reelected him in November even after he was federally charged with bribery.

“There's the argument being made that DC Council members overturned the will of Ward 8 voters who knowingly sent him back to office. So, he could very well run in that special election and win.” - Mark Segraves, NBC Reporter

White hasn’t made his plans explicit yet, however he has been attacking the legality of the council’s moves to expel him and his supporters remain hopeful that he will run again.

DC Council could technically pass a law that forbids White from running again, but when asked, Chairman Phil Mendelson said he refused to speculate on a hypothetical.

What About the FBI Case?

Right now, White’s trial is expected to start in January 2026. But, as Segraves pointed out, the new U.S. Attorney for D.C. could throw a curve ball here. We don’t know how Trump’s appointee, Ed Martin, feels about White or the bribery case. He could decide to postpone the trial or cancel it entirely.

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