Thomas Christopher Ross, a 37-year-old Republican candidate for the Missouri state House, made his initial federal court appearance Thursday after newly unsealed documents revealed an alleged scheme to plant cocaine and prescription amphetamines inside the purse of his Republican primary rival, Louise Secker. Ross faces one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in Springfield.
The Justice Department said it was pulled into the case after the Joplin Police Department contacted federal authorities on July 30 with claims of public corruption. Ross's own campaign manager had disclosed the plot, telling Joplin police that Ross asked him to stash a baggie of cocaine and an Adderall pill, both Schedule II narcotics, inside Secker's purse or car while Ross was out of town. The day after that disclosure, July 31, the campaign manager agreed to wear a wire during a visit to Ross's home. He told Ross he still had "the bag and addies" and asked whether Ross still wanted the drugs planted. Per the unsealed FBI affidavit, Ross confirmed he did.
The wire and the texts
Court documents show the pair also exchanged numerous text messages discussing the scheme. Ross reportedly described the planted drugs as something that "would be extreme egg on the face" for Secker. Screenshots of those messages, cited by Kansas City outlet KCUR-FM, indicate the conspiracy was first discussed as early as May 31.
Ross had narrowly won the Republican nomination for Missouri's state House District 161 against Secker by just a handful of votes in the August primary. The November general election would pit him against Democrat Aaron Metzger. Under Missouri election law, Ross has until September 8 to voluntarily withdraw his name from the ballot.
Peter Kinder, chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, called the circumstances of Ross's arrest "serious and deeply troubling" and called on Ross to drop out, saying the Republican nomination carries "a responsibility to the voters, the community and the principles our party represents." Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, framed the case as a matter of electoral integrity in a Justice Department press release, stating that candidates are expected to conduct campaigns "with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents, allowing voters to make informed decisions without fear of misinformation or undue influence." Fox News Digital reported it reached out to Ross for comment and received no response before publication.
The September 8 withdrawal deadline now defines the nearest decision point in the race.