Governor Northam Calls Felony Injury to a Monument Charges Against State Senator ‘Highly Unusual’

We reported earlier on how Virginia Democratic State Senator L. Louise Lucas has been issued a warrant for felony injury to a monument. Governor Ralph Northam issued a tweet regarding the situation.

Northam called the charges “highly unusual” and that “it’s deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore” would be facing them.

He added that he looked forward to seeing her in Richmond tomorrow so that that they could “get to work.” A General Assembly Special Session is to be held tomorrow with more than 65 bills already filed.

It's deeply troubling that on the verge of Virginia passing long-overdue police reform, the first Black woman to serve as our Senate Pro Tempore is suddenly facing highly unusual charges.@SenLouiseLucas, I look forward to seeing you in Richmond tomorrow—so we can get to work. https://t.co/flI9W5HnYH

— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) August 17, 2020

Body camera footage from the monument destruction shows Lucas telling officers that they need to talk to the city manager, Dr. Lydia Pettis Patton, and that they can’t arrest the vandals.

“I’m Senator Louise Lucas. I know I’m in disguise, but they are going to put some paint on this thing. You can not arrest them. You need to call Dr. Patton, because they are going to do it. You can’t stop them. This is city property,” she said.

Lucas announced last Wednesday that she was “estatic” to “have been chosen as Biden campaign surrogate!” She was “proud to join the Biden/Harris Leadership Team!”

Proud to join the Biden/Harris Leadership Team!

— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) August 12, 2020