Jury deliberating in trial of Waterloo man accused of sending threatening tweets to Sen. Joni Ernst

CEDAR RAPIDS — Federal Bureau of Investigation agents testified Tuesday a Waterloo man admitted sending three tweets “that could be perceived as threatening” to U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in August.

Special Agent Thomas Reinwart testified in U.S. District Court he and another agent interviewed Joseph H. Dierks outside his workplace, Sub City, in downtown Waterloo, on Aug. 18. Dierks admitted to agents he sent the three tweets over Twitter to one of Ernst’s accounts on Aug. 16.

Reinwart and another agent said Dierks told them he wanted to get her attention because he wanted her help to join the military. Because of his age, 34, he would need a waiver from a higher-ranked officer — like Ernst, who is a retired lieutenant colonel from the Iowa Army National Guard.

Dierks is charged with three counts of transmitting a communication containing a threat in interstate commerce. The criminal complaint shows Dierks sent the tweets to Ernst and admitted he knew they would be viewed as threatening.

Read more: http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/jury-deliberating-in-trial-of-waterloo-man-accused-of-sending/article_3c4514fd-3253-579c-92e4-b1ff580ca75b.html