A Pakistani man, Asif Merchant, has been charged with terrorism following an indictment that includes accusations of plotting to assassinate current and former U.S. government officials.
Initially arrested in July on a murder-for-hire charge, Merchant is now facing a new indictment in the Eastern District of New York.
The 46-year-old allegedly traveled to the U.S. to recruit individuals for his assassination plot, which sources indicate may have targeted a range of political figures, including former President Donald Trump and other prominent officials. While specific targets have not been named, the indictment states that Merchant attempted to kill a person within the U.S. government or military.
Merchant purportedly has ties to Iran and has a family there. He visited Iran in April 2024 before coming to the U.S., where he met with a co-conspirator who later became an FBI informant.
Reports suggest that Merchant detailed his plans, even sketching them out on a napkin in a New York hotel room.
During an undercover operation, Merchant believed he was meeting hitmen to further his plot. He had planned to disclose more details about his targets in late August or early September 2024.
Federal authorities arrested him just before he intended to travel abroad, where they discovered notes related to his assassination plan.
Merchant has remained in custody and pleaded not guilty to the initial charge. He has not yet been arraigned on the new terrorism charge.
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The case has raised concerns about threats from Iran against U.S. officials, prompting heightened security measures for political figures.
Attorney General Merrick Garland affirmed that the Justice Department will take a strong stance against any attempts to endanger national security, emphasizing the seriousness of the charges against Merchant.
