State Watch

Top Virginia state senator on FBI raid: ‘I am not backing down’

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by Sophie Brams - 05/07/26 9:25 AM ET

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by Sophie Brams - 05/07/26 9:25 AM ET

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Virginia state Senate leader L. Louise Lucas (D) struck an unyielding tone on Wednesday after federal authorities searched her office and a nearby cannabis dispensary that she co-owns, casting the reported probe against her as politically motivated.

“Today’s actions by Federal agents are about far more than one state senator; they are about power and who is allowed to use it on behalf of the people,” Lucas said in a statement shared on the social platform X.

“What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: when challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices who stand up to them, she added.

Multiple FBI vehicles were spotted outside Lucas’s office in her hometown in Portsmouth, Va., on Wednesday morning as agents executed what the FBI described only as a “court-authorized search warrant.” Agents were also seen at the Cannabis Outlet, a neighboring shop that Lucas opened in 2021, which purports to sell legal CBD and hemp products.

The search was carried out in connection with a corruption investigation, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill’s sister network NewsNation.

Though the full scope of the probe is not yet known, The Associated Press cited several sources who said the probe was opened under former President Biden’s administration.

Still, some Democrats, including Lucas herself, were skeptical about the timing of the FBI raid, noting it came just weeks after a successful redistricting effort she spearheaded.

The 82-year-old senator, who’s been a fixture of the Richmond political scene for more than three decades, led a push in the commonwealth to redraw congressional lines in hopes of countering Republican gains in other states ahead of the November midterms.

Voters ultimately approved the referendum last month, clearing the way for a new map that could shift four seats in favor of Democrats, potentially giving them a 10-1 edge in their U.S. House delegation. The map is currently in limbo amid an ongoing legal fight.

“Voters across this Commonwealth made clear that power belongs with the people, not with politicians who try to take power away from them,” Lucas said. “I was proud to help lead that effort and I have never been afraid to stand up to Donald Trump or anyone else that has tried to undermine our democracy.”

“I am not backing down, and I will keep fighting for the people of Portsmouth and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” she concluded.

Others opted for a more measured response, with Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D) telling multiple outlets in a statement that he was “deeply concerned” by the search but cautioned against rushing to conclusions.

“Right now, there is far more theatrics and speculation than actual information available to the public,” Scott said.

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