FBI raids Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas' office and The Cannabis Outlet in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The FBI raided state Sen. Louise Lucas' office and The Cannabis Outlet in Portsmouth on Wednesday morning.

FBI agents in military fatigues gathered in the parking lot outside The Cannabis Outlet, which Lucas has a business interest in, as onlookers crowded across the street. Numerous unmarked vehicles including an armored personnel carrier and multiple vans were in the parking lot outside. Agents could be seen going in and out of the nearby building at 1214 County Street, which serves as the office for the Democratic senator's business, Lucas Lodge LLC, and her political headquarters.

Lucas is a powerful member of the state Senate and chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. The scope of the investigation, or its goal, is unclear.

An FBI spokesperson would only confirm the agency was "executing a court-authorized federal search warrant in Portsmouth, Va." Federal authorities have indicated that the warrants filed to authorize the searches are sealed.

Calls to Lucas' cellphone went unanswered Wednesday.

Much of the Lucas family had come together to the lawmaker's Portsmouth home by the afternoon. The senator's daughter, Lisa Lucas Burke, said her mother was on the phone with her attorneys as the news played on the living room TV.

FBI agents raided the location where Lucas Lodge runs day support programming for adults with developmental disabilities, according to Lucas Burke, the organization's executive director. She said their programs had to be suspended for the day, and clients were asked to return home while the FBI conducted their activities.

Lucas, 82, is a veteran lawmaker who was at the center of the state's recent redistricting fight, where she was a staunch supporter of a map that favored Democrats in 10 out of Virginia's 11 congressional districts. That version of the proposed maps ultimately won out over more moderate proposals.

In light of her mother's involvement in the redistricting battle and the fight against data centers, Lucas Burke said "it's got a lot of people upset."

"It's all politics," she said.

A man who identified himself as Lucas' grandson and a cashier at The Cannabis Outlet said the FBI "ran in there" while he was working and told him to leave. The man, who declined to provide his name, said Lucas was on the scene Wednesday morning. He said he expects the store to be open Thursday.

State Corporation Commission business records list Lucas as the applicant for The Cannabis Outlet in Portsmouth, however the current status of the business was listed as inactive.

By Wednesday afternoon, FBI officials were seen moving boxes out of the store, which sells cannabis-related products.

Lucas, who has held the office for 34 years, often demonstrates her power on social media, where she's known for fiery posts on the platform X.

While she took her victory lap after voters approved the redistricting referendum last month, Lucas' campaign began selling shirts that read "Ten F---in' One."

Several prominent Democrats came to her defense Wednesday, questioning whether the raids were political retribution for her role in the redistricting fight.

"Lets start with this: Senator L. Louise Lucas has not been charged with anything!" said Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, also a Democrat from Portsmouth. "I am deeply concerned by today's FBI raid. Given the politicization of this administration - an FBI led by Kash Patel and a Justice Department run by President Donald Trump's former personal attorney - I think people should take this with a grain of salt and allow the facts to come out before jumping to conclusions."

U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott tied the raid to the redistricting fight, saying the FBI investigation occurs in the broader context of Trump wielding the power of the Department of Justice to target his political opponents, such as New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey.

"It should be noted that this is occurring just two weeks after Senator Lucas helped lead the successful effort by Virginia voters to reject President Trump's attempt to rig the midterm elections," Scott said.

A spokesperson for Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she was aware of the law enforcement operation.

"In the absence of additional details, the Governor will not be commenting on a federal investigation at this time," the spokesperson said in a statement.

FBI activity was reported at other locations in Portsmouth and Norfolk Wednesday, but it was unclear whether it was related to the raid on Lucas's businesses.

Watching the scene outside the Cannabis Outlet, Michelle Boyd, 48, of Portsmouth said 1st Cousins Automotive, located at 1428 Portsmouth Blvd, which is just two blocks or so from her house, was raided around 6:30 a.m. She said she heard a loud "boom" and someone on a megaphone telling the people inside the address to "come out with their hands up." The sole worker at 1st Cousins Wednesday afternoon confirmed the FBI's presence earlier, but he wasn't there at the time and didn't know anything else about it.

In recent weeks Lucas has been digging in her heels on budget negotiations. The heart of the issue is whether data centers should be obligated to pay the state's 4.3% sales and use tax, which could generate more than $1 billion in revenue.

Lucas also emerged victorious in a public spat with former Gov. Glenn Youngkin on whether to build a professional sports complex in Northern Virginia. The senator was instrumental in killing the proposal in the 2024 budget process.

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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 2:07 PM.