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Mental tests ordered for man accused in threats against Sen. Joni Ernst

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July 19th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A psychiatric evaluation has been ordered for a Nebraska man accused of threatening Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. U.S. Magistrate Judge Helen Adams on Tuesday ordered the transfer of 64-year-old Robert Simet, of Omaha, from the Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs, to the Douglas County Jail in Omaha, where he’ll be held while undergoing an evaluation. Simet is charged with threatening a U-S official.

An arrest affidavit says employees of a motorcycle shop in Pacific Junction, Iowa, told an FBI agent that Simet had been there July 5th. 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.