The FBI searched the office of Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas in Portsmouth, Virginia, as part of an investigation into alleged bribery related to the marijuana dispensary business, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
FBI agents searched the office of Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas as part of an investigation into alleged bribery related to the marijuana dispensary business, according to multiple reports. Lucas, who played a key role in pushing through a new congressional map that adds four Democratic-leaning seats, was not charged with any crime.
- FBI searches office and cannabis dispensary co-owned by Sen. L. Louise Lucas
- Investigation focuses on alleged bribery scheme related to marijuana business
- Lucas involved in Virginia's recent redistricting effort adding Democratic seats
- No charges filed against Lucas; investigation ongoing
Lucas, a key figure in pushing through a new congressional map that adds four Democratic-leaning seats, was not charged with any crime. The search warrants were signed off by a federal judge, who agreed there is probable cause to conduct the raids, as reported by Fox News. The FBI simultaneously carried out a SWAT-team search of a nearby cannabis dispensary co-owned by Lucas.
The investigation started during the Biden administration and focuses on an alleged bribery scheme in connection with the marijuana dispensary business. A source familiar with the matter told CBS News that investigators are looking into this issue, though no specific details about what was being investigated were made public.
Lucas has been a vocal leader of the redistricting effort in Virginia. She posted on social media after the measure passed, referring to former President Donald Trump's push to redraw Texas' congressional map that kicked off the redistricting battle between the two parties. 'You all started it and we f***ing finished it,' she said.
Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, issued a statement saying that Lucas has 'not been charged with anything.' He expressed concern about the politicization of the investigation but called for allowing the facts to come out before jumping to conclusions. The state Supreme Court is currently considering the legality of the new map approved in an April ballot referendum.
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