A Colorado man, accused of dumping a cup of water on Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, could be charged with the federal crime of assaulting a congressman, the Des Moines Register is reporting.
Blake Gibbins, 26, could face up to a year in prison if he is charged and convicted of the federal crime, according to the newspaper.
Gibbins is accused of dumping the water on King as the congressman ate lunch in a Fort Dodge, Iowa restaurant last month. Police in Fort Dodge say they believe King was targeted, However, they note Gibbins did not know the congressman was going to be at the restaurant. Gibbins was originally charged with two counts of assault and disorderly conduct – all misdemeanors.
He had been scheduled to stand trial on April 30.
"Under that federal statute, that means (the state) case needs to be put on hold until the federal case is resolved," Webster County Attorney Darren Driscoll said Thursday.
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