Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas charged in public corruption case
Federal authorities on Thursday charged a prominent Virginia Democrat with racketeering and a money laundering conspiracy as part of an alleged public corruption case involving a cannabis business she co-owns.Virginia State Senator L.
Louise Lucas, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump who is one of the most powerful Democrats in the state, surrendered to authorities Thursday, the Justice Department spokesperson said.She was also charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
A half-dozen others were also in custody also charged in the alleged scheme.The investigation into the 82-year-old Lucas predates the Trump administration, NBC News previously reported.
But the Justice Department’s move, just 12 days before a midterm election, is unusual, as federal authorities have typically avoided taking overt investigative steps against political figures so close to an election.Lucas is not up for reelection this year, but has ties to prominent Democrats who are on the ballot.NBC News has reached out to Senator Lucas’ office, her legal counsel, and Democratic Gov.
Abigail Spanberger for comment.Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel were expected to hold a press conference about the arrest in Norfolk, Virginia.In May, federal agents searched Lucas’ office in Portsmouth, along with a business she co-owns called The Cannabis Outlet, which is located on High Street.
Virginia Democratic Rep.Suhas Subramanyam said his communications with Lucas were monitored, and said the Justice Department had become Trump’s “own personal law firm, with his former personal attorney carrying out vendettas on Trump’s political enemies.”A reporter with WAVY, an NBC affiliate, also received a notification letter showing that his communications with Lucas’ number had been swept up in the wire.
The indictment alleges that members of the conspiracy “used various business entities” to “disguise the proceeds of illegal marijuana distribution,” a...