Lucas Charged in Marijuana Racketeering Case

Virginia's top Democrat, 82-year-old Senator L. Louise Lucas, just got charged with a marijuana racketeering conspiracy that rattles the midterm race. The indictment, unsealed Thursday after a grand jury on Oct. 14, accuses Lucas of leading the enterprise, arranging acquisition and distribution of marijuana, laundering proceeds, and using her political influence to push legislation benefiting her family. Lucas, who helped redraw Virginia districts to give Democrats a chance at a House majority, is in custody and set to appear before a magistrate judge at 2:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. Attorney General Todd Blanche insists the probe began before the Trump administration and that the timing is proper, dismissing accusations of political motivation. Lucas counters, saying the raid is a pattern of intimidation against those who challenge Trump, and that voters' approval of the redistricting plan shows Virginians reject Trump's manipulation of the 2026 midterms. She declared, "I have never been afraid to stand up to Donald Trump," underscoring the clash at the heart of the case.