Today in Small Town Politics – Missouri House Candidate Accused of Trying to Plant Cocaine and Adderall on His Opponent
AP – A candidate for the Missouri House made an initial court appearance Thursday on a federal drug charge accusing him of trying to plant cocaine and Adderall on his Republican primary opponent.
I really don't like politics. Until they get small. I'm not even sure if this technically counts as "small town politics", but it's small enough potatoes for me. Once we're dealing with politicians who people outside a 10 mile radius have heard of, I'm out. But when were talking Thomas Ross of Joplin, Missouri allegedly arming a campaign manager a black nylon glove, a bag of cocaine, and a "pink and white capsule" to plant in Louise Secker's purse – sign me up. This is what acquiring the tiniest, most minuscule amount of power is about.
A former campaign manager for Ross told law enforcement officers that Ross provided him with a black nylon glove that contained a small, plastic bag of white powder and a pink and white capsule. He said Ross told him to place it in Secker’s purse or vehicle while Ross was out of state on vacation, according to a probable cause statement signed by an FBI agent.
Law enforcement tests later showed the substances to be cocaine and Adderall.
I love this idiot. I love a guy who loses the plot to such a comically drastic level. I can only assume this political caper started from a very inebriated place. Thomas Ross probably tried to plant cocaine from the same bag he doing when he came up with the idea. Most people would wake up the next morning and think... well no... most people wouldn't think anything the next morning. It's such a stupid Michael Scott ass idea that by the time you sober up, the thought of actually planting drugs on your political opponent wouldn't even be on your mind. You'd think nothing more than, "Yikes. What the hell happened last night?" then move on with your life.
Not Thomas Ross though. Thomas Ross woke up the next day and came up with code words. He sat with this harebrained after-school-special worthy scheme for weeks and still attempted to carry it out... by way of telling his campaign manager to do it.
Missouri Independent – Screenshots of text messages reviewed by Bernhardt suggest Ross and the former campaign manager discussed the plot as early as May 31 and show them referring to it in coded language as the “substance of the matter” or the “substance of it all,” according to the probable cause statement.
The former campaign manager said Ross asked him to plant the drugs in Secker’s purse or vehicle while Ross was on vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Bernhardt wrote.
Ross sent the campaign manager a text message on June 15 saying: “Hope you all are having success knocking doors and getting the substance of the matter sorted this week.”
Court documents quote a June 18 message from Ross that read: “Any luck with the substance of the matter? I wont be gone much longer.”
I wonder what his plan was after the drugs were planted. They make it look so easy in the movies. Throw a bag of powder in a woman's purse, tell one police officer "I saw her doing drugs in the bathroom", and next scene they're searching her bag. I suppose a man of politics like Thomas Ross may have connections in law enforcement. But still… even if he managed to get the drugs in her purse or car, assuring the cops get to it before she does isn't an easy feat. You can just legally search a person's car based on an anonymous tip.
And the cherry on top of this entire story…
AP – Thomas Ross, 37, is charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He’s accused of asking a campaign manager to plant a small amount of cocaine and a prescription amphetamine pill on his opponent, Louise Secker, in the weeks leading up to the Aug. 4 primary, according to court documents.
Ross, of Joplin, defeated Secker by only a few dozen votes.
He didn't even need it. Thomas Ross won the election, and he didn't even need the good people of Joplin thinking this pleasant looking blonde lady was a coke head.
Thomas Ross never even planted the drugs. Then he won the election. Then he lost his job to Louise Secker because his campaign manager ratted him out. It's the miscalculation of a lifetime.
This campaign manager by the way… I hate to stand on the wrong side of justice, but I can't help but think he just torpedoed his campaign managing career. Sure he "did the right thing". But where has that ever got anyone in the world of politics? Imagine being a politician choosing between two campaign managers, and one of them famously went behind his own candidate's back, worked with the police, and wore a wire to bring him down… all AFTER he won the election… for drugs that never got planted… woof. I'm sorry Mr. Campaign manager. I applaud your moral compass, but I don't think politics is the business for you.