Virginia state lawmaker who led redistricting push indicted by DOJ in marijuana trafficking conspiracy
Federal authorities have indicted Virginia Democratic state Sen. L. Louise Lucas and several family members and associates on charges stemming from a yearslong marijuana trafficking conspiracy and corruption probe.
Lucas, 82, has long been a powerful force in Virginia state politics and previously spearheaded the commonwealth's redistricting effort which was reversed by the state's Supreme Court earlier this year.
But in a sweeping 45-page indictment unsealed Thursday, prosecutors accuse her of using her legislative office to help support a "criminal enterprise" through a medical marijuana dispensary business with charges ranging from racketeering, money laundering, drug trafficking and fraud. Recreational marijuana distribution is not currently legal in Virginia.
The indictment charges Lucas and six others, including Lucas' two daughters and a grandson, with arranging for the purchase and sale of more than 100 kilos of marijuana, and laundering the profits -- with Lucas allegedly using her role as the Virginia Senate pro-tempore and chair of the Finance and Appropriations committee to shield her activities from scrutiny.
Lucas self-surrendered to authorities Thursday morning, according to a DOJ official.
The federal corruption probe, which sources previously told ABC News dated back to the Biden administration, has been known since May of this year when the FBI carried out searches of Lucas' office and a medical marijuana dispensary business she owned.
In a news conference Thursday, Attorney General Todd Blanche sought to rebut any accusations that the indictment was politically motivated.
"We don't do political paybacks," Blanche said. "This investigation has been going on long before the U.S. attorney, the first assistant, started her job -- long before I started my job here, and long before Director [Kash] Patel became the FBI director, it started long before President Trump was reelected."
Blanche was also pressed on whether the Justice Department's unwritten practice of not taking overt investigative steps within 60 days of the election was factored into the announcement, given that Sen. Lucas' daughter, who is an active candidate for office in the upcoming election. was also charged.
Blanche, who in his previous role as President Trump's defense attorney, cited the 60-day rule to criticize charges brought against Trump by former special counsel Jack Smith leading up to the 2024 election, downplayed the rule's impact on his Justice Department's charging decisions in this case.
"The Justice Manual speaks very clearly about what the Department of Justice can and can't do. We cannot bring a charge if our purpose is improper, and there's nothing improper about this purpose," Blanche said Thursday, adding that Lucas herself is not yet up for re-election.
