FARGO, N.D. - A Fargo, North Dakota, man is accused in federal court of sending an email to the office of U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in which he threatened to shoot her in the head, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court.
The documents state that Kevin Lee Olson sent the email Dec. 22 and that Heitkamp's office had received emails from Olson since 2014, including one sent last October in which Olson stated: "I'm coming for you!! Now what will you hide behind??"
A criminal complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court charges Olson with mailing threatening communications.
An arrest warrant filed in federal court states Olson was arrested Tuesday in Fargo.
Olson appeared in court Tuesday afternoon.
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A detention hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, Jan. 12.
The U.S. Capitol Police, the federal police agency charged with protecting members of Congress, executed a warrant Tuesday morning in south Fargo, according to Fargo Deputy Chief Joe Anderson of the Fargo Police Department.
Anderson said local officers assisted the federal agents in the execution of the warrant.
In April 2016, Olson filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Social Security Administration and the Department of the Treasury asking for, among other things, an exemption from participating in the Affordable Care Act.
In documents he filed in that case, Olson said he was born in 1961 and he listed an address of 1637 51st St. S., Fargo. There was a strong police presence Tuesday morning at that address, and law enforcement personnel could be seen entering and leaving the residence.
An affidavit in support of the criminal complaint and arrest warrant states Fargo police interviewed Olson at his home Jan. 3.
The affidavit said Olson admitted that the threatening email sent in December was sent through his account and that he sent the email, but he refused to answer questions regarding the threatening statement.
Olson also told officers he owns firearms, according to the affidavit.
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According to the affidavit, the threatening email read in part: "It's (sic) seems the only consideration these days is when one becomes a criminal. I guess I should find you, you (expletive), and shoot you in your red head!"
Abbie McDonough, communications director for U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, confirmed Tuesday that threats had been made against Heitkamp but declined to discuss details about the investigation into the threats, referring questions to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
The U.S. Capitol Police in a statement Tuesday said Olson was arrested for transmitting in interstate commerce any communications containing a threat. The agency stated it began investigating Olson last fall after he sent threatening messages to a member of Congress.
In a document Olson recently filed in connection with his suit against the federal government, he states that the district court "has been dead silent" regarding his case and he asked for the Supreme Court, "the Final Stronghold of Constitutional Justice in our Deteriorating Republic," for protection from the Affordable Care Act and "Federal Legislative and Executive Criminals."
In the past, Olson has corresponded with Heitkamp's office regarding his desire for a religious exemption from the ACA.
In an email Heitkamp sent to Olson in 2014, Heitkamp said Senate ethic rules prevented her from becoming involved in legal matters or offering legal advice.
