U.S.BREAKING NEWS
Feds charge Virginia lawmaker who was key to redistricting push
Lucas and six co-defendants, including her daughters and grandson, face an indictment in the Eastern District of Virginia, filed twelve days before the midterms; she has not been convicted.
On air: Hank Ledger and Vera Bullock on BBN This MorningPublished
Photo: Rklear · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger and Vera Bullock on this story, from BBN This Morning at 9:57 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are CBS News's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by CBS News: “Feds charge Virginia lawmaker who was key to redistricting push”, with reporting from Democracy Now and NBC News.
- Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 9:57 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Hank Ledger and Vera Bullock.
- Topics: Virginia.
- BBN covered this story before: Jack Jouett, the 'Paul Revere of the South,' Gets His Due (October 20).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- CBS NewsFeds charge Virginia lawmaker who was key to redistricting push
- Democracy NowFBI Raids Office of State Senator L. Louise Lucas May 7, 2026 · facts used on air
- NBC NewsVirginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas charged in public corruption case, DOJ says October 22, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThis just in: CBS News reports Virginia state senator L.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLouise Lucas, eighty-two, surrendered to federal authorities this morning and faces five of eight charges in a forty-five-page indictment alleging bribery and racketeering.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorProsecutors allege she directed a scheme to buy and sell over one hundred kilograms of illegal marijuana.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSix co-defendants are charged too, including her daughters and grandson. Lucas has not been convicted.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThis is analysis, but Lucas helped push the congressional map that the state supreme court threw out in May, and NBC News says these charges land twelve days before the midterms.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorVirginia voters will be asking about timing.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAfter a May raid she said that when challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices who stand up to them.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWe'll bring you updates as they come.
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Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Eleifert · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Antonioaesparza · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
The story so far
- Gretchen Walsh blisters world record in 50 freestyle at Virginia… · Swimming World
- French filmmaker's West Virginia trip, a Kate Hudson workout and a… · Yahoo Creators
- Cheddar cheese shipped to Maryland, Virginia under recall · WUSA9
- Jack Jouett, the 'Paul Revere of the South,' Gets His Due · The Federalist
- Feds charge Virginia lawmaker who was key to redistricting push (this story)
- Virginia senator Lucas charged; Hubbard freed from Russia · NBC News
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Thursday, October 22, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months
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