A Pakistani national with ties to the Iranian government was arrested and charged with plotting a murder-for-hire scheme targeting U.S. government officials and politicians. Asif Merchant, a 46-year-old man, was accused of planning to assassinate both current and former government officials across the political spectrum, including former President Donald Trump. The charging documents were unsealed on Tuesday, revealing the details of the alleged plot.
Intelligence regarding Merchant’s plan was a key factor in the decision to increase security measures for former President Trump in recent weeks, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Despite the timing of the charges coinciding with an assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, there is no evidence linking Merchant to that incident.
Law enforcement successfully foiled the plot before any attack could be carried out. An ongoing investigation has not found any connection between Merchant and the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. U.S. intelligence and law enforcement officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, have been tracking various threat streams from Iran against politicians and government officials, particularly since the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani during the Trump administration.
Merchant’s alleged planning began in April when he traveled to the U.S. to recruit individuals to carry out his plot. He later met with an unnamed co-conspirator who turned out to be an FBI informant in New York. Over the following months, Merchant disclosed his plans to the informant, including details of the assassination plot.
During meetings in June, Merchant made gestures and discussed plans related to carrying out a killing. He also requested the FBI informant to help him find potential hitmen for the job. The plot involved stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home, orchestrating a distraction through a protest, and ultimately assassinating a politician or government official.
Merchant allegedly justified his actions by claiming that the targets were individuals who were causing harm to Pakistan and the Muslim world. He even drew out the plan on a napkin and assured the informant that there would be security measures in place during the attack. In June, Merchant and the informant scouted for potential recruits in New York City, indicating his seriousness about the plot.
The unnamed individual arranged for Merchant to meet with two undercover agents posing as hitmen. During the meeting, Merchant presented himself as a representative of a larger group outside the U.S. He agreed to pay the agents $5,000 in advance and devised a coded language to discuss the assassination plan discreetly. The phrase “fleece jacket” was used as a reference to the plot.
According to court documents, Merchant planned to provide further instructions regarding the plot in late August or early September, including the target’s name. On June 21, he traveled from Boston to New York to pay the hitmen and handed over $5,000 in cash. He reiterated the details of the plan, which included the assassination, the protest, and the theft of documents. Merchant also requested the agents to launder money for him.
Law enforcement officials apprehended Merchant on July 12 at his residence before he could embark on a trip outside the U.S. A search of his belongings revealed a handwritten note containing coded words related to the plot. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to thwarting Iran’s retaliatory actions against American officials and holding those responsible accountable.
Garland acknowledged the heightened awareness of threats against public officials following the attempted assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. However, investigators found no connection between the defendant charged in the case and the incident. The Secret Service deemed the attack a failure, and the FBI continues to investigate the perpetrator’s motives.
In conclusion, the arrest of Asif Merchant sheds light on the ongoing threat posed by individuals with ties to the Iranian government who seek to harm U.S. government officials and politicians. Law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in countering such plots and ensuring the safety of public officials and the general population. The case underscores the importance of proactive measures to prevent acts of violence and terrorism on American soil.
