Missouri House candidate charged with conspiracy to plant drugs on rival
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Thomas Christopher Ross, the Republican nominee for Missouri's 161st House district, was indicted for conspiring to place cocaine and Adderall in opponent Louise Secker's vehicle, according to a federal affidavit.
A federal indictment filed Thursday accuses Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, of conspiring to distribute controlled substances by attempting to plant cocaine and Adderall in the car of his Republican primary opponent, Louise Secker. The charge stems from a probable-cause affidavit that says Ross instructed his former campaign manager to place the drugs in Secker's vehicle while Ross was on vacation in South Carolina. The campaign manager later contacted law-enforcement, providing a black nylon glove containing the substances and informing authorities of the plot.
Ross won the primary by a narrow margin of fewer than 36 votes, securing the GOP nomination for the 161st District. The state Republican chairman called the allegations “serious and deeply troubling” and urged Ross to withdraw from the race.
Text messages retrieved by investigators show Ross discussing the plan with the campaign manager, referencing “the substance of the matter” and expressing a desire to have the scheme completed before a scheduled meeting on Thursday. A recorded conversation indicates Ross suggested filing an anonymous tip alleging Secker had drugs in her car.
Both Ross and his legal team have not responded to requests for comment, and Secker also declined to comment.