Federal authorities have charged Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national, in a plot to assassinate President Trump and other high-profile U.S. officials. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York unveiled a detailed complaint outlining Merchant’s elaborate plan. Known also as Asif Raza Merchant, the 46-year-old reportedly masterminded this sinister scheme from overseas, traveling to the U.S. to recruit hitmen.
The plot began in April 2024 when Merchant flew from Pakistan to Houston, Texas. Under the guise of discussing business opportunities, he reached out to a confidential source who tipped off law enforcement. This source then introduced Merchant to two undercover law enforcement officers posing as hitmen.
NEW: DOJ announces it has charged a Pakistani national w/ ties to Iran in a plot to assassinate current & former US government officials on US soil in retaliation for the Soleimani killing. DOJ says Asif Merchant flew to the US in April after spending time in Iran, then traveled… pic.twitter.com/Hjp0L90BVT
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 6, 2024
During covert meetings in New York, the chilling details of Merchant’s intentions emerged. Offering $100,000 for the assassination, Merchant discussed a multifaceted plot involving theft, protests, and hits. He described his targets as those “hurting Pakistan and the Muslim world.” Using coded language and multiple cellular phones, Merchant demonstrated a sophisticated grasp of tradecraft.
In June 2024, Merchant took a significant step towards actualizing his plan. After arranging a meet in a Nassau County hotel, he handed over $5,000 in cash to the undercover officers in Manhattan as an advance payment. He assured more money through the informal “hawala” system.
Merchant’s plot is believed to be part of a larger scheme possibly orchestrated by adversaries of the U.S. The complaint references previous Iranian threats to U.S. officials, suggesting a larger geopolitical motive. Merchant was apprehended on July 12, 2024, as he prepared to leave the country, with a handwritten note in his wallet containing the coded language used in the plot.
Federal authorities have ramped up security measures for Trump, aware of Iran’s potential desire for vengeance following the 2020 U.S. drone strike that eliminated Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Though no ties have been found between Merchant and the recent Butler, Pennsylvania shooting, the FBI is confident they thwarted this plot well in advance.
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