Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas (D-District 18) survived Jim Crow, became one of the most powerful Black women in state politics, and spent more than three decades challenging political adversaries. On Thursday, the 82-year-old Democrat faced federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges, with President Donald Trump’s Justice Department accusing her of using her political influence to advance an illegal marijuana operation just 12 days before the midterm elections.
“Today, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the full weight of the federal government have been wielded against an 82-year-old great-grandmother,” Lucas declared in a statement. “I grew up under Jim Crow. I’ve seen what happens when people in power try to silence those who stand up to them. I spent my life fighting back, and I’m not stopping now.”
Lucas, the Virginia Senate president pro tempore and chairwoman of its powerful Finance and Appropriations Committee, was among seven people charged in an indictment unsealed Thursday. Federal authorities allege that she, along with relatives and associates, participated in an operation involving marijuana distribution and money laundering, and prosecutors accuse Lucas of exploiting her elected position to benefit the enterprise.
The longtime Portsmouth lawmaker, who entered the Senate in 1992, surrendered to federal authorities on Thursday. She has not been convicted of any crime.
FBI Director Kash Patel accused Lucas of using her office to shield what investigators called the “Lucas Enterprise,” while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the prosecution at a Norfolk news conference.
“We don’t do political paybacks,” Blanche told reporters.
But the Justice Department’s announcement, less than two weeks before voters decide control of Congress, immediately drew objections from Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who questioned the timing without dismissing the allegations.
“I have read the charging document alleging a series of criminal acts by a member of the Virginia Senate,” Spanberger said. “In our American system of justice, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that is true for Senl. L. Louise Lucas. She and her family deserve the opportunity to present their defense and speak to the allegations presented.”
Spanberger criticized the department for departing from its longstanding practice of avoiding investigative or prosecutorial actions that could influence elections.
“The timing of this indictment undermines the U.S. Department of Justice’s previously longstanding policy of not taking legal actions — to include indictments or significant investigative steps — close to an election and sadly, this timing further erodes the trust the American people deserve to have in the Department of Justice,” the governor said.
Political commentator Ed Krassenstein was more accusatory, citing the years of alleged criminal activity cited by federal officials.
“Can Someone tell me why the DOJ ignored the 60-day unwritten rule about indicting politicians before a midterm, when Todd Blanche claims the illegal behavior was going on for the last [seven] years?” Krassenstein wrote. “This is a blatant attack on Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas.”
Justice Department guidance cautions prosecutors against timing investigative steps or criminal charges to influence an election, though it does not establish a blanket 60-day prohibition. Blanche maintained that the prosecution was not politically motivated. The Associated Press reported that the investigation began during President Joe Biden’s administration.
The federal government’s account also drew scrutiny at Thursday’s news conference when a reporter questioned Blanche about an allegation regarding a Virginia recreational marijuana license.
Prosecutors allege that Lucas helped an associate obtain a license in exchange for a share of future revenue. A reporter challenged Blanche on how such a license could have been obtained, given that Virginia has not yet begun issuing licenses for recreational marijuana retail sales. Blanche provided no response.
Virginia permits adult marijuana possession, but its recreational retail market has not opened. The distinction between seeking a future license and actually obtaining one is relevant to the allegation, and the exchange left questions about what prosecutors contend Lucas accomplished.
Lucas has been a prominent supporter of marijuana legalization and was associated with the opening of the Cannabis Outlet, a Portsmouth business that sells hemp and CBD products, in 2021. Her legislative influence and business activities have drawn federal scrutiny, although neither advocating legalization nor operating a lawful hemp business constitutes criminal wrongdoing.
“This is the circus we always expected it to be, and we will wait for further details to have a more specific response,” said Brian Woolfolk, chief counsel for the L. Louise Lucas Legal Defense Fund.
Lucas has also been a prominent Democratic voice in Virginia’s congressional redistricting battles, supporting efforts to redraw political boundaries as Republicans pursued similar changes in other states. Her indictment comes with less than two weeks left in a fiercely contested election season, as control of Congress and the future of Trump’s presidency are central concerns.
“I’m not new to this. I’m true to this,” Lucas declared. “I will not be intimidated. I will not be bullied. And I will not back down.”
