As the problems and challenges for Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White Sr. continue after he pled not guilty to a bribery charge on Sept. 12 during an arraignment in U.S. District Court, his future and those who reside in Southeast D.C. remains uncertain but potentially tragic.
Metaphorically, White and his constituents find themselves hanging on for dear life, like that fragile, egg-ensconced, fairy tale character Humpty Dumpty who feared falling from his perch on a wall and finding his outer shell shattered by the impact.
But this is not fiction – it’s the real deal. And White is not the only figure who stands to lose.
Last Tuesday, after returning from their summer hiatus, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and his colleagues moved quickly, removing White as chairman of the Committee on Recreation, Libraries and Youth Affairs, reassigning his duties under the guidance of two subcommittees that will be overseen by other councilmembers. In the meantime, as White remains innocent until proven guilty, he will be allowed to vote on legislation and other Council matters.
But the council also decided to hire a law firm to conduct an independent investigation of White which they say will cost D.C. taxpayers a whopping $400,000.
We understand the council’s attempt to obtain the facts and either confirm or discredit the prosecution’s allegations against White, who claim he agreed to steer lucrative government contracts to unnamed business owners in exchange for cash payments and other gifts. We also understand that the council feels compelled to ascertain if White may have violated a law that requires all council members to live in the ward to which they have been elected.
However, with the clock ticking until the Nov. 5 election, which in addition to White who has refused to step down from his reelection campaign, now includes four write-in candidates and the winner of the Republican primary, we don’t see the cost benefits of an independent investigation.
Allegedly, the investigation will be completed in less than 90 days, an estimate we were unable to confirm at press time. By that time the election will be over.
And given the grand jury’s decision to indict White and with a team of federal prosecutors already assigned to the case, we question whether it’s really necessary for District taxpayers to shell out $400,000 for a parallel investigation.
White, who has refused to accept a plea deal, continues to maintain his innocence. As for his colleagues on the council, we urge them to focus on the long list of agenda items before them and to rethink their decision to drain the city’s coffers with money that could be spent for far better uses.
I wholeheartedly endorse this editorial. The citizens of the District will inevitably be the biggest losers in this unfortunate debacle. Allow the prosecution of the law, already the burden of the public coffers, to proceed without duplicating the efforts in the Council at such a tremendous cost. Although the councilman’s rights should be protected to the fullest extent, his position on the council, is not a part of those rights. Only his liberty is. Action must be taken to limit the councilman’s duties on this august body, so that while this cloud rests over the breach of his public duties and responsibilities, he is estopped from further violating his oath to faithfully serve the interests of his constituents.