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The FBI searched the Portsmouth office and businesses of State Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas (D–Portsmouth) Wednesday morning.
Agents were seen bringing out material from buildings that host her district office, as well as a cannabis dispensary co-owned by Lucas. Bystanders also confronted law enforcement, saying “shame,” or shouting “Free Louise.” Others said to “lock” Lucas up.
VPM News asked the FBI if the agency could confirm it was searching Lucas’ office. The agency’s response did not name Lucas.
“The FBI is executing a court-authorized federal search warrant in Portsmouth, VA. There is no threat to public safety. This is an ongoing investigation and [no] further information is publicly available at this time,” said the FBI in a statement.
VPM News was unable to reach Lucas or her staff Wednesday morning.
Lucas is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee and the most senior member of the Senate, serving since 1992. She is one of the politicians most involved in the redistricting push that voters approved last month that could net Democrats four seats in Congress. The referendum’s validity is currently being considered by the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D–Portsmouth), Attorney General Jay Jones, and US Rep. Bobby Scott (D–3rd) all raised the prospect that the investigation was politically motivated.
State Sen. Mamie Locke (D–Hampton), the Senate’s Democratic caucus chair, tied the search directly to the redistricting effort, which Virginia Democrats positioned as necessary pushback to pro-GOP gerrymandering campaigns urged by President Donald Trump in several Republican-led states.
“The Senator was the brainchild of these efforts and pushed back against President Trump’s many attempts to rig another election,” she said in an emailed statement. “This development does not exist in a vacuum. There is a growing pattern of pressure from Trump and his allies to direct federal law enforcement agencies to investigate his political adversaries. Given that context, the timing of this action is difficult to ignore.”
A spokesperson for Gov. Abigail Spanberger did not comment on the news.
“The Governor is aware of today’s law enforcement operation in Portsmouth. In the absence of additional details, the Governor will not be commenting on a federal investigation at this time,” said Libby Wiet.
A Portsmouth Police spokesperson said they wouldn’t be able to confirm or deny the search.
Shaban Athuman contributed reporting from Portsmouth.
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