Man pleads guilty to threatening Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Nebraska man has pleaded guilty to threatening Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa.

Court records say Robert Simet, of Omaha, entered the plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs. The charge: violent threats to a federal official. His sentencing is scheduled for May 23.

An arrest affidavit says employees of a motorcycle shop in Pacific Junction, Iowa, told an FBI agent that Simet had been there July 5. During that visit, Simet made several statements about Ernst, including that he believes she is a member of the Islamic State group and that he “could kill” her during a July 10 event at the motorcycle shop.