Feds charge L. Louise Lucas, powerful Virginia Democrat, in alleged drug scheme

Updated on: October 22, 2026 / 11:03 AM EDT / CBS News

Norfolk, Virginia — L. Louise Lucas, a powerful Virginia state senator and vocal Trump critic who played a central role in the state's redistricting effort last year, was taken into federal custody Thursday and charged in connection with an alleged bribery and racketeering scheme, the Justice Department said.

According to a 45-page indictment filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, Lucas and six other co-defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute and possess marijuana, conspiring to launder money, laundering money and committing bribery by distributing large quantities of illegal marijuana under the auspices of her legal medical cannabis business.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment last week. Lucas, 82, surrendered to law enforcement on Thursday morning. She faces five of the eight charges included in the indictment. Lucas is set to make her initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge Thursday afternoon.

At a press conference to discuss the charges in Norfolk, Virginia, Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed concerns about bringing the charges so close to the midterm elections, noting that Lucas is not on the ballot. He said there was "nothing improper" about the timing of…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/