A Republican in Missouri is in custody after federal officials said he sought to plant cocaine on a political rival.
Thomas Ross, a candidate for the Missouri state House of Representatives, is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Missouri.
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Officials said Ross sought to plant Adderall and cocaine in his primary challenger’s purse days before the Aug. 4 election. The FBI learned about the plan from Ross’s now-former campaign manager, who reported the incident to police in Joplin, Missouri, according to the complaint. The manager is identified in documents as C.S.
Candidate allegedly provided drugs for plot
The FBI alleged that Ross had sought to frame challenger Louise Secker as early as May 31, writing in text messages to his former manager to “resolve that situation sooner than later.”
According to the complaint, the campaign manager would drop the drugs into Secker’s purse, then call police with an anonymous tip that Secker had drugs in her car. If convicted, Ross could face up to 20 years in prison for felony conspiracy to distribute an illicit drug.
Ross secured the Republican nomination, earning just 33 more votes than Secker, according to Aug. 4 primary election results from the Missouri Secretary of State.
Neither Ross nor his campaign immediately responded to Straight Arrow’s request for comment.
Peter Kinder, chair of the Missouri Republican Party, called for Ross to withdraw his candidacy and step down, according to his Wednesday statement. He said that residents in Ross’s district deserve a “nominee who can devote his full attention to earning their trust.”
Democrat Aaron Joseph Metzger was uncontested for the Democratic Party’s nomination in that district and will appear on the ballot in November.
The FBI followed up with the campaign manager in the last week of August to confirm allegations against Ross and how the plot would be carried out.
