A Missouri House primary race allegedly came with a side of hardball that crossed into felony territory. Federal prosecutors say Republican candidate Thomas Ross schemed for weeks to plant cocaine and Adderall on his primary opponent, Louise Secker, in an attempt to sink her campaign, the Missouri Independent reports. Ross, who won the GOP nomination for the state's 161st House District by just 32 votes last month, was charged Wednesday with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Investigators say Ross' former campaign manager told police about the plot, saying the candidate told him to plant the drugs in Secker's purse or vehicle while she was out of state on vacation, reports the AP.
According to an FBI affidavit, the then–campaign manager went to Joplin police in July with a glove holding a baggie of cocaine and an Adderall pill, and shared text messages in which the pair allegedly used code phrases like "the substance of the matter." The manager later wore an FBI recording device to Ross' home on July 31, less than a week before the Aug. 6 primary. He said he still had "the bag and addies" and could tip off police about drugs in Secker's car. Ross allegedly replied, "If you can pull it off…pull it off."
"The American people deserve confidence in an electoral process that has served our nation for generations," said R. Matthew Price, US Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, said in a news release. "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." Peter Kinder, chairman of Missouri's Republican Party, said the arrest was "serious and deeply troubling" and urged Ross to drop out of the race, the AP reports.
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