Are Trump Cronies Picking On An 82-Year Old Senior Citizen?

This not poll-tricks as usual.

Louise Lucas may be facing federal racketeering charges involving marijuana, but the arrest of the 82-year-old Virginia senator has ignited a much larger question about race, political retaliation and the price of opposing Donald Trump. Yup. Here we are.

The powerful Virginia Democrat, who has served in the state Senate since 1992, was indicted in connection with an alleged $4.5 million marijuana operation involving several relatives. Federal prosecutors claim she used her political influence to benefit the enterprise while pursuing legislation that could have enriched her family.

Those are serious allegations. However, Lucas has not been convicted, and her supporters are questioning whether the federal government has an entirely different agenda. By the way, her backers are scared that the government will come for them next, I am being told.

Lucas, a legend of many sorts, has been an outspoken critic of Trump and a supporter of the movement to remove Confederate monuments in Virginia. Remember that? During the racial justice demonstrations of 2020, she became a controversial figure in Portsmouth, where protesters targeted a Confederate monument. The confrontation eventually resulted in the destruction of portions of the monument. There were even criminal charges levied against Lucas at the time. They were all later dismissed.

So now, she catches a R.I.C.O.? The symbolism is impossible to ignore. A Black woman who challenged Confederate imagery and openly opposed Trump is now facing the possibility of spending her remaining years in federal prison. I do not see this as happenstance.

Coincidence? Political revenge? Or a legitimate criminal investigation? Tell me what you think in the comments.

Anyway, the indictment was unsealed less than two weeks before the midterm elections. Coincidence? I think not. Lucas had also championed an unsuccessful redistricting effort intended to strengthen Democratic representation in Congress. She put in the effort and the work though.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger criticized the timing, suggesting it undermined public confidence in the Justice Department.

“I have read the charging document alleging a series of criminal acts by a member of the Virginia Senate. In our American system of justice, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that is true for Senator L. Louise Lucas. She and her family deserve the opportunity to present their defense and speak to the allegations presented.

“The timing of this indictment undermines the U.S. Department of Justice’s previously longstanding policy of not taking legal actions — to include indictments or significant investigative steps — close to an election and sadly, this timing further erodes the trust the American people deserve to have in the Department of Justice.”

Meanwhile, Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected accusations of political retaliation, insisting, “We don’t do political paybacks.” We do not believe you, bro, you need more people.

Could prominent Democrats and other influential figures be reluctant to defend Lucas aggressively because they fear attracting the attention of Trump’s Justice Department themselves? That is what I am hearing.

Lucas insists she will not be intimidated. She has defeated them before and I think this 82-year old lioness will win again. We know that the political landscape is full of all sorts of criminality. And yet, much of it goes unchecked and overlooked. That is another article and my opinion.

America’s contentious struggle over race, power, justice and more is really feeling quite evil at t his point.