FBI Searching VA Senate Leader's Office Amid Corruption Probe

PORTSMOUTH, VA — FBI agents searched the office of Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas on Wednesday as part of what the agency called a corruption investigation, according to an Associated Press report.

A statement released by the FBI said only that it was conducting a court-authorized search warrant in Portsmouth. The person who confirmed the FBI’s search was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Several local outlets, including WAVY and WTKR, also received statements confirming that agents were executing a federal search warrant in the city.

Reporters from both outlets said multiple FBI agents were seen outside Lucas' office on Wednesday. According to WAVY, authorities were also seen at Cannabis Outlet, which is located near Lucas' office.

Lucas represents District 18 in the Virginia State Senate, which covers parts of Chesapeake and Portsmouth. She also serves as the president pro tempore of the Virginia State Senate.

Though the exact nature of the investigation was unclear, the search comes as the FBI and Justice Department have opened a spate of politically charged investigations into perceived adversaries of President Donald Trump.

Last week, for instance, the Justice Department charged former FBI Director James Comey with making a threatening Instagram post against Trump, an accusation that Comey, who for nearly a decade has drawn the president’s ire, has denied. A separate mortgage fraud case, ultimately dismissed by a court, targeted Democratic New York state Attorney General Letitia James, who had brought a major civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his business.

Amid a national, state-by-state partisan redistricting fight kicked off by Trump’s desire to aid his fellow Republicans, Virginia voters in April approved a Democrat-backed constitutional amendment authorizing new U.S. House districts. The plan could help the party win up to four additional seats.

Lucas has been a vocal leader of the effort.

“We are not going to let anyone tilt the system without a response,” she said after voters approved the map in April. Trump, meanwhile, denounced the results.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.