COEUR D'ALENE -- A northern Idaho man has been charged with aggravated assault after police say he pulled a knife and threatened to stab a co-worker while the two were arguing over politics.

Forty-year-old Duane Owens of Spirit Lake could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

Police say Owens and a co-worker regularly debated politics at the logging equipment sales office where they work.

But things got out of hand Friday when Owens, a Republican, remarked to his Democratic co-worker that "Democrats cheat and lie," to which the co-worker replied, "All politicians lie and cheat."

The argument escalated until Owens allegedly pulled a knife and held it below the coworker's waist. Owens fled when the co-worker grabbed a phone and called police.

The co-worker, whose name was not released and who has been put on leave by his employer, told police Owens had previously threatened him at gunpoint during political arguments.

Owens responded that while he kept and cleaned his guns at work, he never used them to intimidate anyone.