Missouri House candidate charged in alleged plot to plant cocaine on opponent

A Republican candidate for the Missouri House is facing federal charges after prosecutors say he orchestrated a plot to plant drugs, including cocaine, on his primary opponent in the lead-up to the August election.

Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, made his initial appearance Thursday in a Springfield, Mo., courtroom. He is charged with one count of conspiring to distribute a controlled substance.

A detention hearing has been set for Wednesday, according to court records.

Ross is accused of asking a former campaign manager to place a bag of drugs inside the purse or vehicle of his GOP primary opponent, Louise Secker, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

The former campaign manager reportedly told officers with the Joplin Police Department that Ross had given him a black nylon glove containing a small plastic bag of white powder and a pink and white capsule, which were later identified as cocaine and Adderall, respectively.

Authorities said Ross asked the former campaign manager in text messages to plant the drug while he was “out of state on vacation.” The case was turned over to the FBI.

“Candidates are expected to conduct their campaigns with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents, allowing voters to make informed decisions without fear of misinformation or undue influence,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Price said in a statement, saying Ross had violated public trust.

Ross defeated Secker in the Republican primary for Missouri House District 161, which covers Joplin and the surrounding area, by only 33 votes.

Peter Kinder, the chair of the Missouri Republican Party, has called for Ross to “immediately” withdraw from the upcoming general election.

“Being the Republican nominee for public office carries with it a responsibility to the voters, the community, and the principles our party represents,” Kinder said in a Wednesday statement. “The people of the 161st District deserve a nominee who can devote his full attention to earning their trust and representing their interests in Jefferson City.”

The Hill has reached out to Ross’s campaign for comment.