Missouri State House Candidate Accused of Plotting to Plant Drugs on Opponent
Missouri state House candidate Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, is charged with conspiring to distribute a controlled substance after allegedly asking his former campaign manager to plant cocaine and Adderall on his Republican primary rival, Louise Secker. Authorities say Ross discussed placing the drugs in Secker’s car or purse and exchanged messages about “getting the substance of the matter sorted,” with Secker narrowly defeating Ross by fewer than 36 votes in Missouri’s 161st District. The state GOP chair called the allegations serious and deeply troubling and urged Ross to drop out of the race.