Adair, Iowa [KCCI] — The Chief of Police in Adair remains on the job while he faces more than a dozen federal charges related to machine guns. The recent court filings explain how the investigation into Chief Brad Wendt unfolded, what city council members knew, and when they knew it. KCCI reports the documents describe interviews the FBI conducted with current and former Adair City Council members and the transcripts of closed-session city council meetings.

The court filings also indicate that on Aug. 31, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Police Chief Brad Wendt’s gun store in Denison, and the Adair Police Department. Wendt was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after that. And then, on Sept. 14 — two weeks after the FBI searches — Adair City Council members held a closed-door meeting to talk about Wendt. Transcripts show one council member claimed that Wendt admitted he sold guns for much more than he’d paid for them, claiming to do so on behalf of the city.

Another member defended Wendt — saying the chief had “paid for everything” — and had broken no laws.The council held another private meeting on Oct. 26 — to talk about a letter from Wendt’s attorney. The contents of that letter have not been made public. But by the end of that meeting, transcripts show, the council reinstated Wendt, taking him off of paid leave.

Less than two months later, though — on Dec. 14, 2022 — Wendt was indicted on 19 federal charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office accused Wendt of exploiting his position as police chief to buy or try to buy machine guns over a four-year period. Prosecutors say Wendt claimed the guns were for official police duties, but were actually re-sold, stored, or even used at public events where people were charged money to shoot those guns.

Five days after that indictment, the city council again placed Wendt on leave — this time unpaid. Less than a month after that — on Jan. 11, 2023, the city council held another closed-door meeting. Transcripts show Wendt himself was there, and claimed “everybody” on city council knew he was buying the machine guns. Later that night, the council voted to reinstate Wendt for a second time.

Wendt is due in Federal Court Feb. 5 in Des Moines. If found guilty, Wendt could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years behind bars.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is co-sponsoring a bill that would shift unused COVID-19 funds to help replace Chinese-made communications equipment installed in the U-S. “Last year, U.S. officials confirmed Huawei equipment can intercept not only commercial cell traffic, but also the highly restricted airwaves used by the U.S. military,” Hinson says. “Chinese-made equipment in our networks is an individual privacy, cybersecurity and national security disaster.”

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, is among a bipartisan group in the House co-sponsoring a bill called the Defend Our Networks Act. A similar bill in the U.S. has bipartisan backing. The Biden Administration has prohibited the purchase of communications equipment from Huawei and Z-T-E, businesses that have close ties to the Chinese government. The Federal Communications Commission has banned U-S based networks from using the equipment.

“They also ordered telecom carriers to tear out equipment made by Huawei and ZTE,” Hinson says. “However, it’s estimated there are still about 24,000 pieces of this Chinese-made equipment embedded in our U.S. networks.”

The F-C-C’s “rip and replace” fund — created in 2020 — has reimburses small providers of cell or internet service that replace that Chinese equipment, but it still has about three BILLION dollars in eligible applications that haven’t been fulfilled. “That shortfall means that carriers will have to continuing compromised equipment or rip and not replace, leaving Americans without communications service and this would disproportionately impact rural areas, where many communities have only one carrier,” Hinson says. “That could lead to a total service loss for Americans in some place.”

Hinson says it’s critical to quickly replace Chinese-made products with secure tel-com equipment and ensure Americans have private and secure connectivity.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Utilizing surveillance video and other investigative means, Council Bluffs Police Detectives say they have identified a man from Papillion, Nebraska, as a suspect in the assault Wednesday morning, of a woman who was jogging on the River’s Edge Park Service Road, south of the I-480 bridge underpass. Authorities say an arrest warrant has been issued for 25-year-old Dominic M. Henton. He is wanted on one-count of Assault with the Intent to commit sexual abuse.

Henton is believed to be a transient at this time, and may frequent the area of the Riverfront on both the Iowa and Nebraska sides. He is described as being a white male, 5-feet 8-inches tall, 140-pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Henton. Please do not approach him but instead contact 911 if his whereabouts are known.

Surveillance images show Henton as he followed Senator Martha McSally eastbound over the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge and then southbound onto the trail. Senator McSally can be seen walking in front of Henton in the photos. One photo depicts Henton in the area before the assault. The fourth photo shows Henton in the area after the assault took place.

Original story follows:

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in locating a suspect involved in an assault. Authorities say that at around 10:53-a.m., Wednesday, November 8th, Council Bluffs police officers were dispatched to the Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park for a report of an assault. The investigation revealed that a male assaulted the victim, identified as Martha McSally**, as she was jogging on the River’s Edge Service Road South of I-480 bridge underpass.

McSally fought off the attacker and chased him into a dense area of brush near the I-480 bridge. She lost sight of the suspect prior to officers arriving. After a check of the area the suspect was not located.