Sept. 16 (UPI) — The trial of District of Columbia Council Member Trayon White Sr. for a federal bribery charge began this week, showing video evidence of meetings that prosecutors say was White accepting envelopes of cash from Allieu Kamara.

The video evidence played by prosecutors Tuesday showed several meetings in the summer of 2024 in which White, the Ward 8 council member, accepted the envelopes of cash from Kamara, a business owner who can be heard saying he wanted D.C. officials’ favor to renew contracts worth millions, The Washington Post reported.

Defense attorney Gary Kohlman said that Kamara was White’s brother-in-law and that Kamara was caught by the FBI for defrauding COVID-19 relief programs, which White, 42, offered in exchange for a plea deal.

“There was no crime. … Notwithstanding efforts to induce a crime,” Kohlman said in his opening argument. White has pleaded not guilty.

Kohlman said that White accepted money, but argued it was not a bribe and there was no quid pro quo.

“There was no crime,” Kohlman said.

He also attacked the credibility of cooperating witness Kamara, calling him “corrupt to the bone.”

The Washington Post called Kamara and asked if White was his brother-in-law. Kamara told The Post, “You know it’s not true.” He then said, “I’m not allowed to talk to you” and told The Post to talk to his attorney.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Crabb Jr. said in his opening statement that the alleged bribery was put into writing.

Crabb told the jury that White agreed to make $156,000 if he helped Kamara secure three D.C. contracts for his non-profit, which helps ease violence in crime-ridden neighborhoods. But White only collected $35,000 before the FBI arrested him after a final meeting with Kamara.

Crabb quoted what White said during a meeting with Kamara: “Once you get me, if you lock eyes and get your understanding, I get to work.”

“By ‘locking eyes and getting to work,’ Mr. White means taking bribes,” Crabb said.

He said that White had outstanding campaign debt and needed money for a real estate investment in North Carolina. He said White once said, “It’s really expensive to see girls and have fun.”

Kohlman said White only participated in “constituent services,” by checking on the status of Kamara’s contracts.

To prove bribery, prosecutors must prove that White intended to use his position to help Kamara. But the contractor ultimately did not get contract extensions for his organization, Life Deeds.

White is in his third term on the D.C. Council.

FBI Agent Matthew Gano testified Tuesday. He said the agency began its investigation into White in 2023. He said the agency had learned about Kamara’s conduct while looking into fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans. They confronted him with their evidence and asked him to cooperate in the case against White.

That’s when Kamara offered White the bribe.

Months after his arrest in 2024, White was re-elected. In February 2025, the council voted 12-0 to expel him from office. White got his seat back in a special election.