US charges Pakistani man in murder-for-hire plot against politicians: Is it related to Trump assassination attempt?

Last updated on August 9th, 2024 at 10:24 am

The US has arrested a Pakistani national – allegedly having ties to Iran – over plotting a murder-for-hire scheme targeting several government officials and politicians, according to charging documents. Is it related to the recent Donald Trump assassination attempt?

The man in police custody currently – Asif Merchant, 46 – is accused of planning to assassinate current and former government officials in the US, including former President and Republican presidential nominee Trump, according to multiple sources.

US drone strike on top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani

The charges against Merchant and the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania don’t share a large time gap. But there is no indication that the Pakistani national’s murder-for-hire plot is at all related to that shooting.

The US has been investigating numerous threat streams from Iran against politicians and government officials that date back to the fatal drone strike on top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani during the Trump administration.

Merchant’s alleged planning started earlier this year as he entered the US to “recruit individuals to carry out his plot to assassinate US government officials,” according to court documents. The phrase “fleece jacket” allegedly referred to the assassination plan

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Asif Merchant presented himself as ‘representative’ in US

Court papers unsealed revealed that the assassination plot against US politicians and government officials included stealing documents or USB drives from an unnamed target’s residence, planning a protest for distraction and subsequent killing.

In the beginning, investigators said Merchant met an unnamed co-conspirator-turned-FBI-informant and began a months-long relationship. He revealed his plans to the unnamed individual and asked the person to set up meetings with potential hitmen.

The FBI informant arranged to have the Pakistani national meet 2 undercover agents, posing themselves as hitmen before Merchant. He presented himself as the ‘representative’ in the US and agreed to pay the men $5,000 ahead of the plot as an advance.

No evidence linking Merchant to attack against Donald Trump

US officials subsequently arrested Asif Merchant on July 12 at his residence ahead of a planned trip outside of the country. During a search, they recovered a note that contained codes for the different aspects of the assassination plot.

Investigators have found no evidence linking the latest arrest to the attack against Donald Trump. On July 13, Thomas Crooks fired 8 rounds at a rally in Pennsylvania, injuring the former President and a couple of others and killing one man.