Source: Fox News
Summary
A Republican candidate for the Missouri state House, Thomas Christopher Ross, faces federal drug charges after court documents revealed an alleged plot to plant cocaine and prescription pills in his political opponent’s purse. Ross appeared in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, where he was charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. According to the Justice Department, Ross conspired with his former campaign manager to stash narcotics in the personal property of his rival, Louise Secker, before the August primary. An FBI affidavit stated the campaign manager wore a wire and reported Ross to authorities. Ross narrowly won the Republican nomination for Missouri’s state House of Representatives District 161 earlier this month.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Ross appeared in court, charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs.
The campaign manager wore a wire, caught Ross in a sting.
Ross and the manager discussed planting drugs in Secker’s purse.
It’s a familiar script for political dirt, but the drugs were real.
Author: Evan Null
Republican Candidate Faces Federal Charges
Thomas Christopher Ross, a Republican candidate for the Missouri state House, is facing federal drug charges. The charges stem from an alleged plot to plant cocaine and prescription pills in his opponent’s purse. Ross made his initial court appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The Justice Department claims Ross conspired with his former campaign manager to stash narcotics in the personal property of his rival, Louise Secker, before the August primary.
Alleged Conspiracy to Frame Opponent
According to the Justice Department, Ross conspired with his former campaign manager to plant narcotics among the personal property of his Republican rival, Louise Secker. The plan was allegedly intended to harm Secker ahead of the state’s August primary. The campaign manager reportedly flipped on Ross and wore a wire to catch him in a sting operation. The FBI affidavit details the conspiracy and the plan to plant drugs in Secker’s purse or car.
Court Documents Reveal Details of the Plot
Newly unsealed court documents reveal the alleged plot to frame Ross’s political opponent. The Justice Department said the campaign manager told the Joplin Police Department about the conspiracy to plant cocaine and an Adderall pill, both Schedule II narcotics, among Secker’s belongings. The staffer claimed he was asked by Ross to plant a baggie of cocaine and a prescription amphetamine pill, both given to him by Ross, inside Secker’s purse or car. The drugs were meant to be planted while Ross was out of town.
Text Messages and Wiretaps Expose the Conspiracy
According to a probable cause affidavit, the campaign manager wore a wire during an encounter at Ross’s home. The court records showed how the campaign manager told Ross he still had “the bag and addies” and asked whether Ross still wanted the drugs planted on his opponent. Ross reportedly responded in the affirmative, according to court documents. The pair also sent numerous text messages discussing the conspiracy, with Ross suggesting the plan would be “extreme egg on the face” of Secker.
Political Fallout and Calls for Withdrawal
Peter Kinder, chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, called on Ross to drop out of the race after his arrest. Kinder said the circumstances of Ross’s arrest were “serious and deeply troubling.” Ross had narrowly won the Republican nomination for Missouri’s state House of Representatives District 161 earlier this month by just a handful of votes against Secker. Under Missouri election law, Ross has until Sept. 8 to voluntarily withdraw his name from the November general election ballot.
