Dem expelled over federal charges takes lead in election to replace himself

A former Democratic city councilmember in Washington, D.C., who was expelled from office over federal bribery charges, is on track to win a special election to replace himself.

According to reporters for the Washington Examiner and The 51st, Trayon White Sr. narrowly leads the primary election in Ward 8, with three other Democratic candidates splitting the vote, all but guaranteeing his election in the general race. White leads by just around 5 percent over his competitors with the vote count stopped for the night, but with only a small batch of mail-in ballots outstanding, White and his supporters are already celebrating, WAMU's Alex Koma reported.

White has been a massively controversial figure in office.

In 2018, he claimed that snowfall in D.C. was the result of "climate manipulation" being controlled by the Jewish Rothschild business dynasty — later issuing an apology, saying, "I work very closely with the Jewish community and never want to offend anyone, especially with antisemitic remarks ... I see I should not have said that after learning from my colleagues."

Last year, White was indicted on federal bribery charges, alleging he accepted payments of $156,000 to pressure city government employees at the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services to extend million-dollar contracts with two private companies for violence intervention services.

In February, the D.C. Council voted unanimously to expel White over the charges, the first time in history they had ever removed a member for misconduct.