The US Justice Department has charged Asif Merchant, a Pakistani man allegedly linked to the Iranian government, with plotting political assassinations in the United States. The targets potentially included former President Donald Trump. In light of these allegations, the U.S. government has increased security for Trump and other officials. Although the criminal complaint does not explicitly name Trump, multiple sources confirmed that he was among the intended targets. The plot was foiled by law enforcement before any attack could take place. Merchant is currently in federal custody in New York, as stated in an FBI press release.
Court documents reveal that a federal complaint unsealed in Brooklyn has charged Asif Merchant, also known as “Asif Raza Merchant,” a 46-year-old Pakistani national, with murder-for-hire in connection with the foiled assassination plot. “Fortunately, the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were undercover FBI agents. This case underscores the dedication and formidable efforts of our agents, analysts, and prosecutors in New York, Houston, and Dallas. Their success in neutralizing this threat not only prevented a tragic outcome but also reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office.
Law enforcement officers stated that the accused was working on behalf of others overseas and planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil. “This prosecution demonstrates that this Office and the entire US Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials, and our citizens from foreign threats,” they said.
Merchant traveled to New York City and collaborated with a supposed hitman to carry out the assassinations in late August or early September, federal prosecutors said in a court complaint. The complaint suggests that high-ranking U.S. officials, potentially including Trump, were the intended targets. FBI investigators believe the targets included Trump and other current and former U.S. government officials.
According to court documents, Merchant orchestrated a plan to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on American soil. In April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant traveled from Pakistan to the United States and contacted someone he believed could assist with the plot. This individual reported Merchant’s intentions to law enforcement and became a confidential informant.
In early June, Merchant met with the confidential source, detailing his assassination scheme and indicating it would not be a one-time event. He made a gun-like gesture while discussing the killing and clarified that the targets were within the United States. Merchant’s plan included several criminal activities: stealing documents from a target’s residence, organizing protests, and ultimately assassinating a political figure or government official. He expressed concerns about the security measures around potential targets and discussed various scenarios for carrying out the assassination.
By mid-June, Merchant met with individuals he thought were hitmen but were actually undercover FBI agents. During these meetings, he sought their help for theft and assassination, indicating he would provide instructions on whom to kill after he left the U.S. Merchant agreed to pay $5,000 in cash as an advance for the assassination services, successfully delivering this payment on June 21. He planned to leave the country on July 12, 2024, one day before the planned assassination attempt on Trump. However, law enforcement intervened and arrested him before he could depart.
