FBI agents raided the office of longtime Virginia Democratic State Sen. L. Louise Lucas on Wednesday as part of a federal public corruption investigation tied to the retail marijuana industry, according to federal law enforcement sources familiar with the case.
Authorities also searched a nearby cannabis dispensary in Portsmouth, Virginia, that Lucas has publicly acknowledged co-owning. The business, known as The Cannabis Outlet, sits across the parking lot from the senator’s office and was included in the court-authorized operation.
The investigation reportedly centers on allegations of bribery involving the state’s retail cannabis business and claims that the senior Democratic lawmaker may have used her political influence in connection with the industry. Federal officials have not publicly released specific charges or detailed the full scope of the probe.
Images and video from the scene showed FBI agents, including several wearing tactical gear, carrying out the searches early Wednesday morning. Agents were seen removing boxes and other materials from both properties while several law enforcement vehicles surrounded the area.
Lucas later arrived at the scene in a black SUV and briefly spoke with reporters. The 82-year-old senator said she had just returned from a medical appointment and claimed she did not know the reason for the federal activity.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Lucas told Fox News correspondent Alex Hogan outside the property.
According to reports, three individuals were taken into custody during the operation, though authorities have not publicly identified them or clarified whether the arrests were directly connected to Lucas. Witnesses also reported seeing the senator circling the parking lot multiple times while agents conducted the searches.
State business records have connected Lucas to the cannabis-related property as recently as 2024. The senator has previously promoted the cannabis and hemp industry on social media and has spoken publicly about efforts to expand Virginia’s retail marijuana market.
When he came to speak to the Senate Democratic Caucus during session I brought this up and he ran from the room and then had a staffer tweet I was mistaken.
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) September 9, 2022
Should Virginia Senator L. Louise Lucas face consequences related to the FBI raid on her office?
Lucas previously alleged that former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, had investigated her cannabis business as far back as 2021. At the time, she accused political opponents of targeting her because of her support for marijuana legalization and expansion efforts in the state.
The longtime Democratic power broker has been one of the most influential figures in Virginia politics for decades. Lucas has served in the state legislature since 1992 and has held the role of president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate since 2019.
She also recently played a major role in supporting a controversial redistricting referendum approved by Virginia voters in April. Democrats argued the measure would reshape congressional maps in a way that could help the party gain additional US House seats in upcoming elections.
After the referendum passed, Lucas publicly celebrated the result and taunted Republican Sen. Ted Cruz on social media, writing, “You all started it and we f–king finished it.”
Earlier this year, Lucas posted a list of New Year’s resolutions on X that included expanding “Retail Cannabis Markets,” lowering costs for Virginians, and securing a stronger Democratic advantage in congressional representation.
The FBI search quickly drew political attention across Virginia. Rep. Bobby Scott, a fellow Democrat from Virginia, noted that the raid came only weeks after Lucas helped lead the successful redistricting effort. Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger confirmed she was aware of the investigation but declined to comment further.
The Virginia Supreme Court has since temporarily blocked the newly approved congressional maps while a Republican legal challenge moves forward. Federal authorities have not indicated when additional information about the corruption investigation may be released.
