FBI searches Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas's office in Portsmouth as part of corruption investigation

Federal agents searched the Portsmouth, Virginia, district office of state Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas on Wednesday as part of a corruption investigation. The FBI confirmed it was "executing a court-authorized federal search warrant in Portsmouth, VA," but said no further information was publicly available. A person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press — on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name — that Lucas was connected to the search.

The Washington Examiner reported that multiple FBI vehicles were present at the scene Wednesday morning and that agents also searched a cannabis dispensary located next door to Lucas's office. The connection between the dispensary and the investigation was not explained by officials, and authorities did not say whether the business was itself a target or whether agents believed it contained evidence related to the case. Fox News, according to the Examiner, reported "multiple arrests" at the scene, though it did not specify who may have been taken into custody; that detail did not appear in AP's reporting.

Lucas is one of Virginia's most senior lawmakers, holding the position of Senate President Pro Tempore. She has been a leading figure in the state's recent redistricting effort: Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment on April 21 authorizing new U.S. House districts, a measure backed by Democrats that could help the party win up to four additional congressional seats, according to the AP.