What We Know: The head of Missouri’s Republican Party is calling on the GOP nominee for the 161st District state representative race in the Joplin area to drop out of the November election.
What It Means: Federal charges have been filed against Thomas Ross, who is accused of asking his campaign manager to plant quote “a mixture or substance containing cocaine and Adderall” on political opponent and fellow Republican Louise Secker.
Authorities say the former campaign manager provided Joplin police with a black nylon glove with a plastic bag inside that contained a white powder that tested positive for cocaine.
What It Means: FBI agents say they provided the former campaign manager a recording device to use during a meeting between him and Ross on July 31st. Ross is in the Joplin City Jail waiting to be transferred to federal custody.
(Photo provided by Joplin Mugshots)