FBI raids Spanberger ally office as federal corruption probe targets cannabis business

Longtime state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, a major power broker in Virginia politics who stumped for Spanberger on the campaign trail in 2025, is now at the center of a major FBI corruption probe, according to federal law enforcement sources. A federal law enforcement source familiar with the case clarified that the corruption probe was opened by the FBI during the Biden administration.

Agents executed court-authorized criminal search warrants at Lucas' office in Portsmouth, Virginia, Wednesday, according to federal law enforcement sources. The FBI simultaneously carried out a SWAT-team search of a nearby cannabis dispensary co-owned by Lucas. At least three people were detained during the raids. 

A spokesperson for Spanberger told Fox News Digital that the governor "is aware of today's law enforcement operation in Portsmouth." The spokesperson added that, "in the absence of additional details, the Governor will not be commenting on a federal investigation at this time."

This is not the first political firestorm Lucas has faced. 

In addition to serving as the Virginia Senate president pro tempore and chair of the Finance & Appropriations Committee, Lucas also is co-owner of a cannabis business. The cannabis shop has previously faced scrutiny after an investigation reported that some products were allegedly mislabeled or exceeded legal THC limits, raising regulatory concerns under Virginia law. 

Lucas has been a longtime supporter of marijuana legalization in Virginia, co-sponsoring the 2021 law that legalized possession and continuing to back efforts to establish a regulated retail market.

She has asserted that Democrats will "fight fire with fire" regarding the redistricting fight and said, "You can bet your a-- that Democrats are ready for this fight." 

After news of the raids broke, Virginia state Delegate Wren Williams, a Republican and major opponent of the Spanberger-backed redistricting plan, told Fox News Digital that "Rumors of corruption and pay-to-play politics have long surrounded the Democratic Party's infrastructure in Virginia. However, no one has been willing to do anything to hold these power brokers accountable." 

He emphasized that "everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but it takes a federal judge to issue search warrants to the FBI.

"When the chief of police and prosecutor tried to hold Senator Lucas accountable for her actions last time, each were removed from office shortly thereafter," he asserted, adding, "Sunlight is the best cure for corruption. I'm sure the Commonwealth of Virginia will be very interested to see what comes of this investigation."

Fox News Digital reached out to Lucas for comment.

Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.