Pakistani National with Iranian Connections Charged in Foiled Plot to Assassinate U.S. Politician

News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/8th August 2024

In a significant development, Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, has been charged in federal court in Brooklyn with a murder-for-hire scheme aimed at assassinating a U.S. politician or government officials. The case, which has drawn considerable attention, involves allegations that Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani national with ties to Iran, orchestrated a plot to carry out these attacks on American soil. Fortunately, law enforcement agencies thwarted the scheme before it could be executed, and Merchant is currently in federal custody in New York.

The unsealed complaint reveals that among the intended targets of Merchant’s plot was former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. The high-profile nature of the plot has prompted a strong response from various officials, including Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, who underscored the Department of Justice’s commitment to countering foreign threats and protecting American officials from potential harm. Garland emphasized that the Justice Department would use every resource at its disposal to address such dangerous plots and ensure national security.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York also highlighted the seriousness of the charges. He stated that the indictment underscores the office’s resolve to act decisively against threats to U.S. security, particularly those posed by foreign actors. Peace extended his gratitude to the FBI’s Field Offices and other agencies involved in uncovering and addressing the plot.

FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned the assassination attempt, describing it as a direct threat to national security. He stressed that such foreign-directed schemes would be met with rigorous investigation and counteraction by the FBI. The FBI’s commitment to safeguarding U.S. citizens and officials from both domestic and international threats was reiterated by Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office.

According to court documents, Merchant’s plot involved several elements, including theft of documents, organizing protests, and assassinating a political figure. Merchant reportedly planned the assassination while residing in Iran before arriving in the United States from Pakistan around April 2024. He contacted an individual he believed could assist with the plot, who subsequently reported Merchant’s activities to law enforcement and became a confidential source.

In early June, Merchant met with the confidential source in New York, where he detailed his assassination plans. Merchant outlined various scenarios for executing the plot and instructed the source to arrange meetings with individuals who could carry out the actions. Merchant’s plans were said to include stealing documents, orchestrating protests, and ultimately carrying out the assassination.

Merchant further arranged to pay $5,000 to undercover law enforcement officers posing as hitmen, intending to finalize the assassination once he had left the United States. However, on July 12, 2024, before he could depart the country, Merchant was arrested by law enforcement agents. His arrest came after he had made arrangements to leave the U.S. and was about to finalize his departure.

The charges against Merchant are still allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The case is being managed by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section, with Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Gilbert Rein, and Douglas Pravda leading the prosecution, supported by trial attorneys from the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section.