Stories of justice and action across America
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One of the country's more outspoken Democrats against President Donald Trump has been arrested by federal authorities in a case that is bound to be put under a legal and political microscope.
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Welcome back, This is America readers, this is Phillip M. Bailey , chief political correspondent with USA TODAY.
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Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, 82, and six other co-defendants were slapped with an indictment over allegations they conspired to distribute and possess illegal marijuana under the auspices of her legal medical cannabis business, the Department of Justice and FBI announced Oct. 22.
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"I grew up under Jim Crow. I've seen what happens when people in power try to silence those who stand up against them. I've spent my life fighting back, and I'm not stopping now," Lucas, who is Black, said in a statement posted on X.
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"I will not be intimidated. I will not be bullied, and I will not back down."
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The dizzying case is rocking Virginia politics, where Lucas has been a top leader and prominent fixture.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters they "don’t do political paybacks," but Virginia Democrats have already begun to cast the case as such given Lucas gained national notoriety for trading barbs with Trump.
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Critics point out that the administration has track record of targeting individuals who've clashed with the president, such as former FBI Director James Comey, former National Security Adviser John Bolton and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche addresses reporters at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, on Sept. 30, 2026.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
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For more on L. Louise Lucas, check out USA TODAY's coverage: |
Virginia state senate Democratic leader slams Maryland counterpart over redistricting: 'Grow a pair and stand up to this president,' Lucas told Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson.
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Kohen Wiley's family speaks out |
The story of a 1-year-old boy fatally shot by a Mississippi police officer during a suspected shoplifting incident continues to be a heart wrenching saga.
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Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office cleared the officer of wrongdoing in the death of Kohen Wiley, who was sitting in his mother's car when an officer opened fire on the vehicle. Authorities have said a friend of Wiley's mother was suspected of shoplifting diapers, but that woman has not been charged with a crime.
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"A 1-year-old baby was shot and killed by a police officer, and now the state of Mississippi says that use of force was justified," Benjamin Crump, a nationally recognized civil rights attorney, said in a statement.
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"How can anyone accept that conclusion when Kohen’s family and the public still have not been allowed to see the body-camera footage?"
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Concerned that Mark Zuckerberg might leave California, Meta created a plan to offset the tax liability if voters approve Proposition 40.
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Billionaires are donating stock to children's Trump Accounts and other ways. Financial experts parse the pros and cons for families and donors.
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The Trinity test’s legacy endures in New Mexico as the U.S. moves to expand nuclear weapons production amid health concerns and public distrust.
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Nikki Anderson's 6-year-old daughter brought home from school an AI-generated photo of herself at age 25. Anderson was furious.
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Brian Louis Sguros, 35, is accused of using Dennis West's identity and taking control of his home after responding to a 2022 welfare check in Florida.
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