A Pakistani national with what FBI Director Christopher Wray called “close ties to Iran” was arrested and charged with orchestrating a scheme to reportedly assassinate former President Trump as well as other government officials.
According to court documents, in April 2024, Asif Merchant, 46, who revealed he has a wife and children in both Iran and Pakistan, came to the U.S. after spending time in Iran. He contacted someone about his alleged scheme; that person, who became a confidential source (CS), then contacted the FBI. In early June in New York, Merchant met the CS and outlined his alleged plot to commit a series of assassinations in the U.S.
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“Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official,” the Department of Justice stated. “Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified ‘party’ back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to ‘finalize’ the plan and leave the United States.”
On June 21, Merchant met with undercover U.S. law enforcement officers in New York, giving them $5,000 in advance.
“After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, ‘now we’re bonded,’ to which Merchant responded ‘yes.’ The UC then stated ‘Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,’ to which Merchant responded ‘Yes, absolutely,’” the DOJ stated.
Merchant was arrested on July 12, 2024, the day he planned to leave the country.
An assassination attempt against former President Trump occurred on July 13. No evidence has yet been offered to connect that event with Merchant.
