A 37-year-old candidate for Missouri state representative is accused of trying to plant cocaine and Adderall on his political opponent in an apparent plot to sabotage her campaign, prompting the state's GOP chair to call for him to quit the race.
Thomas Christopher Ross of Joplin, Missouri, the Republican candidate for Missouri's state seat in House District 161 after last month's slim primary win, was charged on Sept. 2 with a count of conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Southwest Missouri.
"The American people deserve confidence in an electoral process that has served our nation for generations," U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price said in a news release. "Candidates are expected to conduct
their campaigns with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents, allowing voters to make informed decisions without fear of misinformation or undue influence."
Prosecutors: Police contacted FBI over matter of 'public corruption'
According to the office, Joplin police contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation on July 30 about what they said was a matter of "public corruption."
Police told the FBI initial information indicated Ross had asked his former campaign manager to plant drugs on his primary election opponent, Louise Secker. The campaign manager gave law enforcement a black nylon glove he claimed Ross had given him with a small plastic bag inside, the attorney’s office said.
A small amount of white powder inside the bag tested positive for cocaine. Additionally, the office said, law enforcement found inside the glove a pink and white capsule identified as a 20-milligram dose of Adderall, a controlled substance listed as "Schedule 2," one accepted for medical use in the United States but that carries high potential for abuse and dependence.
According to the attorney’s office, the campaign manager said Ross had asked him during a series of text messages to place the bag of drugs in Secker's purse or vehicle while Ross was vacationing out of state.
"The conduct alleged in these charges are substantial and serious," said Chris Ormerod, special agent in charge of the FBI’s field office in Kansas City. "Our citizens deserve to know that the election process is done with transparency and fairness."
Peter Kinder, the state’s GOP chair, issued a statement saying that while Ross is entitled to due process, "the circumstances of his arrest are serious and deeply troubling."
"Given the seriousness of this situation, I believe the right course of action is clear," Kinder said. "I am calling on Mr. Ross to immediately withdraw his candidacy and step down as the Republican nominee."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Missouri candidate accused of planting cocaine and Adderall on rival
