Virginia Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel announced charges against state Senator Louise Lucas on Thursday, including racketeering, money laundering, and drug trafficking. Lucas, an 82-year-old Democrat, led the redistricting efforts for Virginia Democrats earlier this year. Blanche denied any political motivations behind the charges, stating, “We don’t do political paybacks,” during a press conference in Norfolk, Virginia.
The indictment claims Lucas operated a “criminal marijuana enterprise” worth approximately $4.5 million, referred to as “The Lucas Enterprise.” The charges also involve Lucas’ daughter, who opened a marijuana dispensary called The Cannabis Outlet on the same day recreational use of marijuana was legalized in Virginia in 2021. Lucas had authored the original bill that legalized cannabis use in the state and owns a stake in the dispensary.
Critics have raised concerns about the timing of the indictment, which comes just weeks before the midterm elections. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger commented that the timing seems to violate the Department of Justice’s longstanding policy against taking legal actions close to elections. “This timing further erodes the trust the American people deserve to have in the Department of Justice,” she said in a statement.
State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell echoed those sentiments, asserting that the prosecution is indicative of a corrupt administration and the actions of a politically motivated Justice Department. As for Lucas, she expressed her determination to remain politically active despite the charges, indicating they would not deter her.
