The FBI notified several individuals that their phone calls with Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas were recorded earlier this year as part of a federal corruption investigation, including calls with U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam. Subramanyam, a Democrat seeking reelection in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, confirmed that this is the second time in 2026 he has been informed that his communications with Lucas were monitored.
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The surveillance of calls between a sitting state senator and a member of Congress has sparked concerns about the scope and intent of federal investigations into political figures.
Federal agents obtained at least two court authorizations to surveil Lucas’ phone calls, covering March 6 to April 5 and April 14 to May 14. Subramanyam’s office said he received the first notification in early July for the March–April period, and a second letter earlier this week for the April–May period. The FBI waited about three months to notify those whose calls were intercepted, and both letters stated that “all original recordings were sealed” by court order, indicating the calls were recorded and preserved.
Subramanyam’s office said he spoke with Lucas once during the first period but is unsure how many calls were captured in the second. “There has been a significant delay in the Congressman receiving the letters,” his office told The Daily Signal. “We aren’t sure if the monitoring is still ongoing.”
"The FBI and DOJ recently informed me that my phone conversations with State Senator and President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas were being monitored as part of their investigation into Senator Lucas. This is deeply concerning."
— Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, U.S. House of Representatives
The FBI has not commented on whether further surveillance is planned or ongoing. Subramanyam’s office said the congressman has asked the FBI for details on what was listened to and how the information was used, which will inform his next steps. No other members of Congress have been confirmed as subjects of the surveillance.
Details of the Investigation
The investigation into Lucas, a longtime Democratic senator and president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, began during the Biden administration, according to sources cited by the Associated Press. On May 6, the FBI raided Lucas’ district office in Portsmouth and her nearby cannabis dispensary as part of the corruption probe. Lucas has not been charged, and the FBI has declined to comment on the status of the investigation.
Lucas was a leading advocate for a congressional redistricting amendment this year, which would have redrawn districts to benefit Democrats. Although voters approved the measure, the Virginia Supreme Court set it aside on a technicality. Lucas also played a role in delaying the state budget over disputes about tax treatment for data centers.
Political Response and Criticism
Lucas and her supporters have criticized the investigation as politically motivated. In a statement following the FBI raid, Lucas said, “What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: when challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices of those who stand up to them.”
Subramanyam echoed these concerns, stating in a press release that the timing of the wiretap was “extremely suspicious,” coinciding with the campaign for the redistricting referendum and congressional oversight activity. He accused the Department of Justice under President Trump of using investigative powers against political opponents.
Senate Republicans have previously criticized the FBI for seeking telephone toll data related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, but noted that operation did not include recording call content. The Lucas investigation, by contrast, involved recording and preserving the content of calls, including those with at least one federal lawmaker.
The FBI has not brought any charges against Lucas or others as a result of the raid, and has declined to comment on whether it intends to do so. Supporters of the investigation have not publicly responded to the criticism from Lucas and Subramanyam.
Broader Context and Next Steps
The FBI’s monitoring of calls between Lucas and Subramanyam comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal law enforcement’s role in political investigations. The case has drawn national attention due to its overlap with partisan disputes over redistricting and the use of investigative powers against elected officials. Subramanyam’s office said he is awaiting further information from the FBI to determine his response. The agency has not indicated whether additional lawmakers were surveilled or if further action is planned.
