Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas arrested, indicted on federal charges

Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas arrested, indicted on federal charges.

Key points

• The senator's co-defendants named in the 45-page indictment are Lisa Lucas Burke, Prince Albert Williamson Hudson, Ryan Eichelberger, Theresa Lucas-Lamb, Carlton Upton, Jr.
• Lucas, a critic of President Donald Trump, has been a state senator since 1992.
• Virginia state Senator Lille Louise Lucas and six co-defendants face charges including marijuana conspiracy, funds laundering and bribery.
• 14 in the Eastern District of Virginia, state Sen.
• But in an official note posted on X, Lucas wrote she would "fight back" after the Department of Justice and FBI announcing the indictment.

Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas arrested, indicted on federal charges. Natalie Neysa Alund, Aysha Bagchi USA TODAY. State Sen. Louise Lucas arrested after bribery, racketeering scheme.

Federal prosecutors on Oct. 22 confirmed the arrest of a Virginia politician and a half dozen others in connection with an alleged bribery and racketeering scheme.

According to an indictment filed Oct. 14 in the Eastern District of Virginia, state Sen. Lille Louise Lucas and six other co-defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess marijuana, conspiring to launder funds, laundering capital and committing bribery by distributing sizeable quantities of illegal marijuana under the auspices of her legal medical cannabis business.

All seven defendants, who additionally include two daughters and one grandson of Lucas, are at present in federal custody, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed at a news conference Oct. 22. He remarked he believes they will produce an initial appearance in court on Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately known if she had obtained an attorney who could comment on Lucas' behalf.

"I grew up under Jim Crow. I've seen what happens when individuals in power try to silence those who stand up against them. I've spent my life fighting back, and I'm not stopping now, " the statement reads. "I will not be intimidated. I will not be bullied, and I will not back down."

Notably, the 82-year-old senator's arrest comes after the FBI searched Lucas' office and a cannabis retail business she co-owns in Portsmouth, Virginia, on May 6 as part of a corruption investigation, USA TODAY previously documented.

Notably, the senator's co-defendants named in the 45-page indictment are Lisa Lucas Burke, Prince Albert Williamson Hudson, Ryan Eichelberger, Theresa Lucas-Lamb, Carlton Upton, Jr. And Tameka Johnson. It was not immediately clear whether they had obtained legal representation.

Blanche alleged at the press conference that Lucas arranged for getting and distributing marijuana, supervised laundering marijuana proceeds, applied her political influence to demand and accept a bribe, and tried to influence Virginia legislation to benefit herself and her family.

Notably, the charges "reflect the alleged behavior of a public servant who put her own financial interests before the people she was elected to serve, " Blanche remarked.

Lucas, a critic of President Donald Trump, has been a state senator since 1992. She is the state senate's president pro tempore and among the state's most prominent and outspoken Democrats.

Lucas supported lead Virginia's recent redistricting effort. It was anticipated to enable more Democrats to win congressional seats in the upcoming November midterms.

Early in the news conference, Blanche remarked facts and evidence led the investigation "to begin many years ago."

Responding afterwards to a reporter's question on which exact year the investigation kicked off in and what prompted it, Blanche noted he didn't know exactly, "but suffice to say, it wasn't started. By the Trump administration."

FBI Director Kash Patel, who additionally spoke at the news conference, accused Sen. Lucas of using her position of power and public trust in the Virginia state senate "to deflect and defend against her own criminal enterprise." "Truly, the epitome of hypocrisy for a public official, " Patel remarked. This is a developing story. Contributing: Phillip Bailey and Marc Ramirez with USA TODAY.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas arrested, indicted on federal charges point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.