Overview
- Jurors entered a third day of deliberations Friday after two full days without a verdict in the federal bribery case against D.C. Councilmember Trayon White.
- Judge Rudolph Contreras answered jurors' written questions by saying prosecutors do not need to prove that a contract was actually extended or that White had an internal intent to carry out an agreement to secure a conviction.
- Prosecutors built their case on secret FBI recordings, surveillance and testimony from cooperating witness Allieu Kamara, who supplied about $35,000 in cash and has pleaded guilty in related matters.
- White’s defense does not dispute he took the money but argues there was no corrupt agreement or intent to perform official acts in exchange for the payments.
- A guilty verdict would bring prison exposure and immediate disqualification from the D.C. Council with political fallout including a likely special election, while a deadlocked jury could produce a mistrial and a possible retrial by prosecutors.