This was the first council meeting since White was arrested by FBI agents outside of a luxury high-rise in the Navy Yard neighborhood last month. He is accused of accepting a $156,000 bribe in exchange for using his position of power to push for city officials to re-sign several contracts for violence intervention services valued at $5.2 million. White has pleaded not guilty on federal charges.

The motion for the investigation was passed unanimously by the council, with White and Councilman Kenyan R. McDuffie, the chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating White, both voting “present.”

Every member of the council is on the committee with the exception of White.

In conducting its investigation, the council will hire Latham and Watkins for assistance. McDuffie told NBC Washington that the investigation will cost taxpayers $400,000.  

McDuffie shared that the allegations against White are “serious” and that, depending on the findings, he could be removed from his office. 

Aside from the bribery charges, the council will seek to determine if White was living in Ward 8, which is a requirement for being a councilman for that district. Law enforcement told the council that White was actually living in Navy Yard, which is a part of Ward 6. 

The council also voted to remove White as chairman of the youth affairs committee that oversees the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. Now, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson is shifting the various agencies under the committee to the overall council’s oversight. 

The council is expected to have findings ready to share by Dec. 16. White will then have 30 days to prepare a defense. The council will hold a vote on whether to punish White, which could include removing him from office. This would require 11 out of 13 council members to vote in favor of. 

McDuffie told the Washington Post the council will remain fair and balanced in its investigation and deliberations.

​​“While this is not a court of law, it’s still important that any person be provided a fair and thorough process before adverse action can be taken, including possible censure or removal from office,” McDuffie said. “We owe it to the rest of the District of Columbia to conduct an independent investigation with integrity before making our recommendations. This is a serious matter and requires a serious response, not one that is politically expedient or looks best in the newspaper.”

Meanwhile, White remains on the ballot for D.C. Council and has shown no plans to withdraw his candidacy. A large number of Democratic community members are running as write-ins.