This is a developing story and will be updated.
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Portsmouth Sen. Louise Lucas, two of her family members and business associates with narcotics, firearms and conspiracy charges.
Attorney General Tom Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel visited Norfolk to announce the indictment, which focuses on Lucas’s cannabis business in Portsmouth and claims she used her position in the Virginia Senate to create laws that benefit her.
Patel and Blanche referred to Lucas’s business as a “criminal marijuana enterprise,” and claimed she arranged for the acquisition and distribution of 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and supervised the laundering of the marijuana proceeds.
“The purpose of her enterprise included trafficking large quantities of illegal marijuana, creating generational wealth for members and associates of her criminal enterprise, recycling drug proceeds to expand the operation that she launched and created, and steering marijuana licenses to entities in which members held financial interest,” Patel said in a press conference in Norfolk.
There is no federal marijuana licensing program, and Virginia’s licensing application system doesn’t launch until 2027. When questioned on licenses, Blanche said he didn’t want to get into specifics of the case.
Lucas released a statement on her social media following the announcement of the indictment.
“Today’s actions by federal agents are about far more than one state senator; they are about power and who is allowed to use it on behalf of the people,” she posted. “What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: When challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices who stand up to them.”
The FBI raided Lucas’Portsmouth office and marijuana business in May, but Blanche said he thinks the investigation goes back to at least 2019, but could not confirm the date.
“We don't do political paybacks,” he said. “This investigation has been going on long before the [First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theopani Stamos] started her job, long before I started my job here and long before Director Patel became the FBI director.”
Last week, the FBI raided the Washington, D.C. home of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar. It was the latest in high-profile law enforcement searches or legal action taken against Democratic politicians by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Hampton Roads Rep. Bobby Scott pointed out the pattern after the initial raid at Lucas’s properties.
“ … it must be acknowledged that this FBI raid occurs in the broader context of President Trump’s repeated abuse of the Department of Justice to target his perceived political opponents,” Scott wrote in a statement.
He cited the now-dismissed case against New York Attorney General Letitia James, which alleged bank fraud while securing a mortgage for a home in Norfolk; the April indictment of former FBI director James Comey and a closed criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
All three subjects have been critical of Trump, or made decisions the president objected to.
Lucas was a leader in Virginia’s redistricting campaign earlier this year. She campaigned in favor of a referendum that would have allowed the adoption of a new, Democratic-friendly congressional district map for November elections.
Virginia’s effort was spurred by Republican-led states making similar changes with Trump’s support to make it easier for Republicans in the congressional midterm elections.
