PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Federal agents, including the FBI and DEA, executed search warrants on Portsmouth offices and businesses belonging to Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas Wednesday, as part of an ongoing investigation.
In a statement, the FBI said it was "executing a court-authorized federal search warrant" that is part of an ongoing investigation and would not release further details. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia declined to comment and a spokesperson for the White House deferred to the FBI.
Sources tell the Associated Press the warrants are tied to a corruption probe, while the New York Times reports it's a bribery investigation tied to a cannabis dispensary owned by Lucas that began under the Biden administration.
Watch: State Sen. L. Louise Lucas approached by reporter during FBI raid
A SWAT team accompanied federal agents during the operation.
Lucas was seen outside her business but didn't speak with our reporter when approached.
Wednesday evening, Lucas shared a statement on the actions via X.
"Today's actions by Federal agents are about far more than one state senator; they are about power and who is allowed to use it on behalf of the people," Lucas stated. "What we saw fits a clear pattern from the administration; when challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices who stand up to them."
She goes on to reference the recent referendum in Virginia over a redrawn congressional map favoring Democrats 10-1.
"I was proud to help lead that effort, and I have never been afraid to stand up to Donald Trump or anyone else that has tried to undermine our democracy."
Community members who gathered at the scene said they came to show support and decried the search as a political investigation against a powerful Democrat.
"I feel that they just want to go after her. It's character assassination," one community member said.
Lucas has been serving in the state Senate since 1992 and currently chairs the powerful finance committee and serves as president pro tempore of the Senate. She has also been a key backer of ongoing efforts to redraw Virginia's congressional map to heavily favor Democrats.
Several Democratic lawmakers at the Capitol were asked about the raid a few hours after news broke but said they had no comment or were unaware of it.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger told media in Stafford, Virginia she was aware of the operation.
"I am awaiting more details to become public before weighing with any strong public comment and as more information becomes available, I look forward to making further comment," she said.
U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott said Lucas is entitled to due process.
"She's entitled to due process and a presumption of innocence," Scott said.
In a statement and in an interview at the scene of the raid, Scott said the raid "occurs in the broader context of President Trump's repeated abuse of the Department of Justice to target his perceived political opponents."
"It's in the context of Comey being indicted, Jerome Powell being investigated, 'Tish' James — trying to indict her, members of Congress," Scott said.
CBS 6 Political Analyst Dr. Bob Holsworth said the last case of this magnitude was the corruption charges against former Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell. McDonnell was convicted at the lower court level but was eventually overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"If this is anywhere near a bribery investigation, I would just caution that that bar has really been raised very highly, because what happened in the McDonnell administration. McDonnell's case was that there was this individual who was showering the family with gifts in that case, but there was not much proof that Governor McDonnell had ever done anything for that particular individual," said Holsworth. "And largely what that did was that it not only led to the acquittal of Governor McDonnell, but at the same time, it has raised the bar for these bribery investigations and bribery and a bribery conviction."
Holsworth cautioned against drawing early conclusions.
"I think we want to at least wait till we hear more information before we can really make any judgment now," Holsworth said.
House Speaker Don Scott also weighed in, saying he is deeply concerned by the raid. Given what he called the politicization of the current administration, he said "people should take this with a grain of salt and allow the facts to come out before jumping to conclusions."
Speaker Scott also questioned how a national outlet was the first outlet on scene and whether it was made aware of the raid beforehand. He finished by saying Virginians need more information before rushing to political conclusions.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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