A Republican candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives is facing federal charges after allegedly attempting to frame his primary opponent by planting drugs in her vehicle. Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, was charged on Thursday with one count of conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Alleged Scheme Uncovered
Authorities say Ross asked his former campaign manager to place cocaine and Adderall in the car or purse of his opponent, Louise Secker, during the Republican primary last month. The plan reportedly involved executing the setup while Ross was on vacation in South Carolina. The former campaign manager, however, contacted local police and later cooperated with federal investigators, including the FBI.
Evidence and Communications
According to a probable cause affidavit, the campaign manager handed over a black nylon glove that Ross allegedly provided in June. The glove contained small bags of cocaine and Adderall. Text messages allegedly sent by Ross while in Myrtle Beach referenced the plan, with messages like “Any luck with the substance of the matter?” and “I wont be gone much longer.” In one text, Ross allegedly mentioned that Secker was scheduled to meet with Republican women at a local restaurant and wanted the drugs planted before that event, saying it would be “extreme egg on the face.”
In a later conversation secretly recorded by the FBI, Ross allegedly suggested calling in an anonymous tip about drugs in Secker’s car, adding, “If you can pull it off, pull it off.”
Political Context and Reaction
Ross narrowly defeated Secker in the Republican primary by fewer than three dozen votes, securing the GOP nomination for the 161st District House seat. The state GOP chairman issued a statement calling the allegations “serious and deeply troubling” and urged Ross to immediately withdraw from the race. Neither Ross nor his attorneys responded to requests for comment, and Secker also did not respond to inquiries.
The case remains under federal investigation, and Ross faces a court appearance at a later date.