The FBI raids the office of Virginia Sen. Lucas and the treatment center in the Biden-era probe
The FBI raids the office of VA State Senator L Louise Lucas in a corruption investigation
The office of Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas is being raided by the FBI as part of a federal corruption and illegal marijuana business investigation. Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker explains the complexities of that investigation, especially regarding conflicting state and federal marijuana laws. Swecker says, “This is very important.”
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Democrats accused the Trump administration of political prosecution after powerful Virginia Senate President Pro-Tem L. Louise Lucas’ Portsmouth office and marijuana dispensary were raided by the FBI.
However, reports emerged after the raid that the 81-year-old senator’s investigation began under the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Disgraced Attorney General Jay Jones – whose comments about the assassination of the GOP House Speaker of the Commonwealth fueled his ultimately successful campaign – insulted President Donald Trump “and failed to prosecute” his political “enemies”.
“We simply don’t have enough information about the reported FBI activity in Portsmouth. However, several previous actions by the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia have undermined public confidence in that office,” he said of the Alexandria-based prosecutor’s office handling cases in Lucas County.
JABS KADEM TRUMP RETURNS TO MEET HIM AFTER OFFICE RAIDED BY FBI: ‘GOOD OLD’
President Joe Biden winks as he hosts US governors and their spouses at a dinner following the National Governors Association meetings in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Feb. 24, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP)
“This includes the failed prosecution against the political enemies of President Trump, former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James who were both dismissed by the judge before the trial. I urge everyone to refrain from judgment until the relevant facts are known in this matter,” said Jones, referring to part of the allegations of wrongdoing regarding the home connected to James in nearby Norfolk.
Rep. Bobby Scott, a Newport News Democrat who has represented the Lucas area for 33 years, criticized Trump after the attack.
“While we await the full facts of the investigation, it must be acknowledged that this FBI raid occurred in the context of President Trump’s abuse of the Department of Justice to target his political opponents,” said Scott, before adding the timing of the raid following the Virginia voters’ approval of Lucas’s redistricting bid is notable.
“Senator Lucas helped lead a successful effort by Virginia voters to reject President Trump’s attempt to rig the midterm elections,” he said, further echoing Jones’ concerns about recent Trump-era prosecutions such as those of James, Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell and former G-Man James Comey.
“Like all Americans, Senator Lucas has the right to due process and to be presumed innocent,” Scott said.
One of Lucas’ supporters in Richmond and his legal colleague in Portsmouth also expressed anger and pointed the finger at the White House.
“Let’s start with this: Senator L. Louise Lucas has not been charged! I am very concerned about today’s FBI raid,” Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr. gushed.
“Given the politics of these administrations — the FBI led by Kash Patel and the Justice Department run by President Donald Trump’s personal attorney — I think people should take this with a grain of salt and let the facts come out before jumping to conclusions,” he said.
Scott said “theatrics and speculation” outweighed the details of the case being confirmed before criticizing Fox News’ reporting on the matter.
6 HUNDRED FBI FILES UNDER BIDEN’S FACE
Sen. L. Louise Lucas speaks on the Senate floor at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on March 8, 2024. (Minh Connors/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The Associated Press, the New York Times and other outlets reported several sources in the federal government who told them that the investigation that led to the attack began under the octogenarian Delawarean.
“One of the people said the investigation into Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas was opened during the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden. The two spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing criminal investigation,” the AP reported.
Another official told the News of the United States (NOTUS) that the investigation into Lucas was “financial” and began under Biden, while the New York Times revealed the same origin and raised concerns of “corruption and bribery”.
Lucas’ deputy in Richmond also fired Trump who was mad, saying that he has proven his intention to “target the Commonwealth of Virginia” because he voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.
“Senator L. Louise Lucas is an outspoken and historic figure in Virginia politics and has not been charged with a single crime,” said Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon.
Surovell, an attorney in Fairfax County, said Trump had “destroyed” the Justice Department’s independence and said the president mistakenly fired former West Virginia U.S. Attorney Todd Gilbert — the same officer Jones witnessed the killing — and “cleaned out” the prosecutors’ offices.
“Every Virginian should be very concerned about the administration of the law and how it will be applied in this state and our Commonwealth,” Surovell said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Lucas fired back at a statement received by Richmond conservative radio host John Reid, the 2024 GOP gubernatorial nominee.
“The actions of today’s Federal agents are probably more than one senator of the state; they are about power and who is allowed to do something on behalf of the people. What we have seen fits a clear pattern from this administration: when they argue, they try to intimidate and silence the voices of their opponents,” said Lucas.
“I was proud to help lead [the redistricting] and I have never been afraid to stand up to Donald Trump or anyone else who has tried to undermine our democracy,” he said, before going on to say that he is not backing down and will continue to fight and represent Portsmouth.
“LOL, sure Louise,” Reid said in a social media post.
“Everyone knows that you are honest and pure of heart as long as the day is long.”
Reid said blaming Trump is “the best game” in the situation because “many TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) zombies will believe you immediately.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell and House Speaker Don Scott Jr. they were photographed together. (Minh Connors for The Washington Post/Shannon Finney/Getty Images for SEIU)
No further information has been released by the FBI about any charges against Lucas, who was not arrested in the operation.
The raids started a 48-hour period for Virginia Democrats, which on Friday saw Lucas’ efforts to reopen the courthouse, giving national Republicans a major boost in their efforts to hold the House majority.
