The Daily BS • Bo Snerdley Cuts Through It!
The Daily BS • Bo Snerdley Cuts Through It!

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GOP candidate accused of plotting to plant cocaine on opponent — then won primary by 33 votes

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BS BULLETIN:

  • Missouri Republican House nominee Thomas Christopher Ross is federally charged with conspiring to distribute drugs in an alleged plot to frame his primary opponent.
  • Prosecutors say Ross wanted his campaign manager to plant cocaine and Adderall in Louise Secker’s purse or vehicle and then tip off police.
  • The alleged scheme never happened — but Ross went on to defeat Secker in the Republican primary by just 33 votes.

Forget attack ads.

Federal prosecutors say one Missouri Republican candidate allegedly had a considerably more creative plan for taking down his opponent: Plant cocaine and Adderall on her and call the cops.

Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, the Republican nominee for Missouri House District 161, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance over an alleged plot targeting his primary opponent, Louise Secker. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced the charge Thursday. Ross made his initial federal court appearance the same day.

According to an FBI affidavit, Ross’ former campaign manager went to Joplin police in July and told authorities that Ross had asked him to plant drugs on Secker.

And he allegedly brought receipts. The campaign manager gave investigators a black nylon glove he said Ross had provided him. Inside was a small plastic bag containing white powder and a pink-and-white capsule. Authorities said testing identified the substances as cocaine and Adderall.

The alleged instructions were straightforward: Put the drugs in Secker’s purse or vehicle while Ross was conveniently out of state on vacation. Then, according to prosecutors, authorities could receive an anonymous tip that Secker was carrying drugs.

Investigators say the former campaign manager also provided text messages in which the pair allegedly discussed the plan using phrases including the “substance of the matter.”

One message attributed to Ross asked whether they could make it happen before Secker attended a Republican women’s event, saying it would result in “extreme egg on the face.”

But things got even more remarkable after the campaign manager went to police. The FBI equipped him with a recording device for a July meeting with Ross. According to court documents, the campaign manager brought up the drugs again and suggested planting them before making an anonymous call to police.

Ross allegedly responded: “If you can pull it off … pull it off.”

The drugs were never planted, according to authorities.

Ross nevertheless defeated Secker in the Aug. 4 Republican primary by just 33 votes, according to the Associated Press and Washington Post. He became the GOP nominee for the state House seat.

Now his own party wants him gone.

Missouri Republican Party Chairman Peter Kinder called on Ross to withdraw immediately as the party’s nominee, describing the circumstances surrounding his arrest as “serious and deeply troubling.”

Ross had not publicly responded to the allegations as of Thursday, and his public defender had not indicated how he intends to plead. The Justice Department emphasized that the charge is an accusation and not evidence of guilt. Ross is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

MY QUICK TAKE

I’ve seen some dirty political tricks in my time.

But “put cocaine in her purse and call the cops” is apparently where opposition research meets “Breaking Bad.”

And allegedly doing all this over a Missouri state House primary? Thirty-three votes separated these two candidates. Now there’s a federal criminal case separating them.

Politics officially needs a timeout.

 

DBS WIRE SOURCES:

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