Pot Charges Filed In Virginia
L. Louise Lucas, a leading Democratic official in the state of Virginia, has been indicted on multiple charges, mostly relating to a $5 million marijuana ring she supposedly ran. Lucas served as the Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore after the party won a majority of Senate seats in 2019.
But the U.S. Department of Justice says Lucas was a crook who sought to exploit her position for personal gain. It’s charged that she ran a pot selling ring, using her political position to protect the ring from criminal prosecution or investigation. Charges she faces include bribery, racketeering and money laundering. Several individuals surrounding her, including family members, also were charged.
“The charges listed in the indictment reflect the alleged behavior of a public servant who put her own financial interests before the people she was elected to serve,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, an elected official or an everyday citizen, nobody is above the law.”
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger questioned the timing of the charges, saying they “erode public confidence” in the U.S. Department of Justice. Here’s more from Braden Langley.
