H. Griffith

Federal investigators searching properties linked to Virginia Democrat state Sen. Louise Lucas have intensified scrutiny of one of the state's most influential lawmakers, prompting Rep. Morgan Griffith to caution Thursday that the public should allow the legal process to play out.

"As a former criminal defense attorney, everybody's entitled to their day in court, and we'll see what happens," the Virginia Republican said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Early."

Griffith stressed that investigators could ultimately determine that people associated with Lucas, rather than the senator herself, were involved in wrongdoing.

"They may find that some of her people working with her were doing something wrong, as opposed to the senator herself," he added. "But everybody's entitled to their day in court, and we'll just have to see how the process works."

FBI agents on Wednesday searched properties connected to Lucas, a powerful Portsmouth Democrat who has served in the Virginia Senate for more than three decades and recently played a major role in the state's congressional redistricting battle.

The search was part of a federal investigation reportedly examining possible corruption and bribery allegations involving marijuana dispensary businesses, The New York Times reported.

According to multiple reports, the probe began during the Biden administration and has continued under current federal authorities.

Agents executed a search warrant at a Portsmouth office connected to several businesses owned by Lucas, including a network of group homes for older adults and a neighboring marijuana dispensary. Additional locations were also searched as part of the investigation.

Federal agents reportedly served Lucas with a search warrant on Wednesday morning as she entered a massage parlor in Portsmouth.

Authorities have not publicly announced charges against the senator, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Griffith told Newsmax that he was "surprised" but added that "it is always terrible when a leader has issues going on that cause them to be focused on by law enforcement, whether it be federal or state."

The congressman also weighed in on Virginia's ongoing redistricting dispute after the Supreme Court approved a congressional map featuring 10 Democrat-leaning districts. Griffith predicted the courts may ultimately delay implementation of the new maps.

"I think the court is going to do one of two things based on what they've done thus far," Griffith said. "Either they're going to decide to throw the new maps out and keep the old maps with a court decision, or the time is going to run out because we're getting close to the time limit for primaries."

He added that the unresolved legal challenges surrounding the maps make confirmation of the new districts less likely in the near term.

"I think either one of those are most likely," Griffith said. "Confirming the maps at this point, I think, is getting less likely because there's still two cases the court hasn't even been briefed on yet that are pending."

Griffith also pushed back on criticism from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., over the Republican budget reconciliation package.

"The Democrats are still out of touch. They've been out of touch for a long time," Griffith said. "They still are advocating for men in women's sports, transgender surgeries on minors. They're out of touch. The American people don't want that."

While acknowledging Americans are struggling with high gas prices, Griffith defended President Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions.

"The American people are hurting. Gas prices are high, and that is a problem," he said. "But I think people understand that when you have an Iran which is on the verge of getting nuclear weapons, you have to take action."

"I think they agree that President Trump had to take action," Griffith added. "And he took bold action, and I commend him for that."

On the GOP's push to pass a reconciliation bill funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations by June 1, Griffith said Republicans can meet the deadline but warned that several unresolved issues remain.

"It can be done, but we're probably going to need the president's help in getting it across the finish line inside both the House and the Senate," he said.

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