U.S. Senator Faces Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Charges

(Senator L. Louise Lucas. Photo Credit: AP News)

Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas has been charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.

Prosecutors say she led a criminal group that bought and sold large amounts of marijuana and cleaned the money it made.

The 82 year old Democrat was charged along with six others, some of them relatives.

The US Department of Justice unsealed the indictment on Thursday, and a spokesperson said Lucas has already surrendered to authorities.

The case followed an FBI search in May of her hometown office and a cannabis shop in which she has a stake.

Lucas, who has criticised President Donald Trump's administration, said at the time that the search was meant to intimidate her.

Her defence team says it will wait for more details before responding in full.

Lucas has been a state senator since 1992 and is currently president pro tempore.

She also chairs the Senate Finance Committee, which reviews laws that affect state spending.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the group used her position to shield its business from scrutiny and to push laws that would benefit them financially.