Official U.S. government announcements and news reports

Pakistani National with Iranian Ties Charged in Foiled Murder-for-Hire Plot Targeting Trump

Aug 6, 2024, 06:37 PM

The U.S. Justice Department has charged Asif Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani national with alleged ties to the Iranian government, in connection with a foiled murder-for-hire assassination plot. Merchant is accused of traveling to New York City to hire hitmen to assassinate former President Donald Trump and other current and former U.S. government officials. The FBI believes Merchant's actions were part of a broader scheme orchestrated by the Iranian government. Merchant was arrested on July 12, and the charges were unsealed today in Brooklyn. An unsealed indictment shows that Merchant gave an advance payment of $5,000 to an undercover U.S. informant. This case has prompted the U.S. government to increase security measures for Trump and other officials.