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Missouri state legislative candidate accused of trying to plant cocaine on opponent
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Republican candidate Thomas Ross was arrested for allegedly attempting to frame his primary opponent, Louise Secker, by planting cocaine and Adderall in her belongings.
- Ross reportedly gave his former campaign manager drugs and instructed him to stash them in Secker’s purse or vehicle as part of the scheme.
- The Joplin police alerted the FBI, which provided the former manager with a covert recording device capturing Ross encouraging the plan.
- Ross has been charged with conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, and Missouri GOP chair Peter Kinder has called for Ross to withdraw from the race.
- Ross narrowly defeated Secker by 33 votes in the Republican primary for Missouri House District 161, where the incumbent is not seeking re-election.
