District of Columbia Council Chairman Phil Mendelson is establishing a committee to address the allegations against Councilman Trayon White and will be removing him from his committees.

“The federal charges against Council member Trayon White are deeply disturbing,” Mendelson wrote. “Notwithstanding the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty, the allegations, together with the government’s affidavit, are a gut punch to the public trust in the Council.”