Pakistani Man With Ties To Iran Charged In Assassination Plot Against Trump

By Bill Galluccio

August 6, 2024

Asif Merchant, 46
Photo: Department of Justice

The United States Department of Justice has charged a Pakistani man with connections to Iran for planning a foiled assassination attempt possibly targeting former President Donald Trump.

Asif Merchant, 46, was arrested on July 12 after he met with two undercover FBI agents posing as hitmen in New York City. Prosecutors said that Merchant paid the men $5,000 to begin preparations for the assassination plot and two other jobs, stealing documents from the homes of government officials and planning protests at political rallies.

Merchant told the men he was returning to Pakistan and would convey further instructions, including the targets, in a future meeting. He asked if they could meet in Dubai or Istanbul.

While court documents do not state the potential targets, the FBI believes that Trump was one of the people Merchant wanted to be assassinated.

"Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil," said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. "This prosecution demonstrates that this Office and the entire U.S. Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation's security, our government officials, and our citizens from foreign threats."

Officials said the foiled plot was not connected to the assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13.

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