JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A candidate for the Missouri House, Thomas Ross, 37, made an initial court appearance on Thursday facing a federal drug charge. He is accused of attempting to plant cocaine and Adderall on his Republican primary opponent, Louise Secker. The charge, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, stems from allegations that Ross instructed a campaign manager to place a small amount of these drugs on Secker in the lead-up to the August 4 primary election, according to court documents. Ross won the primary by a narrow margin of only a few dozen votes.
Ross did not respond to a request for comment regarding the charge, which was filed on Wednesday. The federal public defender's office assigned to his case has not yet provided information on how Ross intends to plead. Peter Kinder, the chairman of Missouri's Republican Party, has called for Ross to withdraw from the race, labeling the circumstances surrounding his arrest as "serious and deeply troubling."
A former campaign manager for Ross reported to law enforcement that Ross had given him a black nylon glove containing a small plastic bag with white powder and a pink and white capsule. Ross allegedly instructed him to place these items in Secker's purse or vehicle while he was on vacation, as detailed in a probable cause statement signed by an FBI agent. Subsequent tests confirmed that the substances were cocaine and Adderall.
The FBI's statement indicated that Ross had sent multiple text messages to his campaign staffer concerning the substances. In one message, he expressed hope that the plan could be executed before Secker attended a Republican women’s meeting at a Joplin restaurant in June, stating it would be "extreme egg on the face," according to the FBI document.
U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price commented that voters deserve confidence in elections, emphasizing that candidates should conduct their campaigns with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents.