Democrats accused the Trump administration of political prosecution after powerful Virginia Senate President Pro-Tem L. Louise Lucas Portsmouth office and cannabis dispensary was raided by the FBI.
However, reports surfaced after the raid that the investigation into the 81-year-old, three-decade senator was started under former President s administration.
Scandal-plagued Attorney General Jay Jones â whose comments about envisioning the murder of the commonwealths former GOP House Speaker roiled his ultimately successful campaign â cast aspersions on President and “failed prosecutions” of his political “enemies.”
“We simply do not have sufficient information about the reported FBI activity in Portsmouth. However, several previous actions of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia have undermined public confidence in that office,” he said of the Alexandria-centered prosecutors office that handles cases in Lucas region.
“These include the failed prosecutions against President Trumps stated political enemies, former FBI Director and New York Attorney General Letitia James that were both dismissed by a judge well before trial. I urge everyone to exercise restraint in judgment until the relevant facts are known in this matter,” Jones said, referring in part to allegations of wrongdoing in connection to a home linked to James in nearby Norfolk.
Rep. Bobby Scott, a Newport News Democrat who has represented Lucas area for 33 years, slammed Trump after the raid.
“While we await the full facts of the investigation, it must be acknowledged that this FBI raid occurs in the broader context of President Trumps repeated abuse of the to target his perceived political opponents,” Scott said, before adding the raids timing following Virginia voters approving Lucas redistricting bid is notable.
“Senator Lucas helped lead the successful effort by Virginia voters to reject President Trumps attempt to rig the midterm elections,” he said, going on to echo Jones concerns about recent Trump-era prosecutions like those of James, Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell and ex-G-Man James Comey.
“Like all Americans, Senator Lucas has a and a presumption of innocence,” Scott said.
One of Lucas top allies in Richmond and a fellow Portsmouth lawmaker also expressed outrage and pointed the finger at the .
“Lets start with this: Senator L. Louise Lucas has not been charged with anything! I am deeply concerned by todays FBI raid,” fumed Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr.
“Given the politicization of this administration â an FBI led by and a Justice Department run by President Donald Trumps former personal attorney â I think people should take this with a grain of salt and allow the facts to come out before jumping to conclusions,” he said.
Speaker Scott said “theatrics and speculation” are overpowering verifiable information about the case before also criticizing Fox News reporting of the matter.
The , New York Times and other outlets reported several sources within the federal government telling them the probe that sparked the raids began under the octogenarian Delawarean.
“One of the people said the investigation into Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas was opened during Democratic former President Joe Bidens administration. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing ,” the AP reported.
Another official told News of the United States (NOTUS) that the probe into Lucas was “financial” in nature and also that it began under Biden, while the New York Times characterized the origination similarly and suggested “corruption and bribery” concerns.
Lucas deputy in Richmond also fired off a missive lambasting Trump, claiming he has proven his intent to “target the Commonwealth of Virginia” because it v
