Trump assassination attempt allegedly thwarted by feds [VIDEO]

The authorities have announced who foiled a political assassination plot in the United States with connections to the Iranian regime. A Pakistani, Asif Merchant, was arrested on July 12 after allegedly working with a hitman to carry out the killings in late August or early September, potentially targeting senior US officials , including former President Trump.

Merchant has been charged with one count of conspiracy to murder a United States official, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Prosecutors say this was carried out on behalf of other people overseas.

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According to federal prosecutors, Merchant had arrived in New York City in April with the intention of hiring a hitman to carry out the execution of political figures in the US.

He contacted someone he thought would help him, but the person contacted the FBI and became a confidential source for the investigation. Merchant had asked 25 men to hold a protest as a distraction after the killing and a woman to do reconnaissance.

In addition, Merchant allegedly planned to steal documents from the victim's home, plan protests at political rallies and carry out murders.

Court documents show Merchant stating that “the people who will be targeted are the ones who are doing harm to Pakistan and the world, [the] muslim world These are not normal people.” Merchant also used coded language to communicate his plans, saying that “shirt” meant “protest,” “flannel shirt” meant “steal” and “fleece jacket” meant to commit murder. The phrase “denim jacket” referred to “send money”.

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York stated, “Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the assassination of U.S. government officials on U.S. soil. This indictment demonstrates that this Office and the entire US Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect the security of our nation, our government officials and our citizens from foreign threats.”

The trader is currently in custody and no bail was set at his initial court appearance.

Fortunately, this alleged plot was foiled, as the hitman Merchant was working with turned out to be an undercover FBI agent. The investigation underscores the commitment and dedication of FBI agents, analysts and prosecutors in New York, Houston and Dallas who were able to neutralize this foreign threat.

It should be noted that Merchant's alleged foiled plot has no connection to Trump's shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. Investigators said the targets included people on both sides of the aisle, not just Trump.

You can read the full press release from the US Department of Justice below:

“Pakistani national with ties to Iran charged in connection with foiled plot to assassinate US politician or government official

The defendant allegedly traveled to New York City to hire hitmen to assassinate a politician or US government official on US soil

Today, an indictment was unsealed in Brooklyn charging Asif Merchant, aka Asif Raza Merchant, 46, with murder-for-hire as part of an alleged scheme to kill a US politician or government official on American soil. Law enforcement foiled the alleged plot before any attacks could be carried out. The merchant is in federal custody.

“For years, the Department of Justice has been working aggressively to counter Iran's brazen and relentless efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” the attorney general said Merrick B. Garland. “The Department of Justice will spare no resources to disrupt and hold accountable those who seek to carry out Iran's deadly plot against American citizens and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target North American public officials. -Americans and endanger the national security of the United States.”

“This dangerous assassination plot exposed in today's complaint was allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “A foreign-led plot to kill a public official, or any American citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full power and resources of the FBI.”

“The indictment unsealed today underscores, once again, that those who engage in lethal conspiracies on American soil will face the full force of the American justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Department of Justice's National Security Division. “The targeting of former and current officials by foreign agents is an affront to our sovereignty and our democratic institutions, and the Department of Justice will use every tool possible to expose and disrupt this heinous activity.”

“Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the assassination of US government officials on US soil,” said US Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York . “This prosecution demonstrates that this office and the entire Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect the security of our nation, our government officials, and our citizens from foreign threats.

“Fortunately, the killers Merchant allegedly tried to hire were undercover FBI agents,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI's New York field office. “This case highlights the dedication and formidable efforts of our agents, analysts and prosecutors in New York, Houston and Dallas. Their success in neutralizing this threat not only prevented a tragic outcome, but also reaffirms the commitment of the “FBI to protect our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats.”

According to the allegations contained in the complaint and related publicly filed court documents, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate a US politician or government official on US soil. Around April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could help him with the plan. This person reported the trader's conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (the CS).

In early June, Merchant met with the CS in New York and explained his assassination plot. Merchant told the CS that the opportunity he had for the CS was not a one time opportunity and he would continue. Merchant then made a “digital gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a murder. Merchant further said that the intended victims would be “targeted here,” meaning the United States. Merchant directed the CS to arrange meetings with persons whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions. Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1) stealing documents or USB drives from a target's home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official.

At that meeting, Merchant began planning possible kill scenarios and asked the CS about how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked the CS to explain how a target would die in different scenarios. The trader told the CS that there would be “security [] around” the person.

Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and that he would communicate with the CS from abroad using code words. The CS asked if Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” in the home with whom Merchant worked. Merchant replied that he did and that the homecoming party told him to “end” the plan and leave the United States.

In mid-June, Merchant met with the alleged hitmen, who were in fact undercover US law enforcement (UC) agents in New York. Merchant notified the UCs that he wanted them for three services: stealing documents, organizing protests at political rallies, and killing a “political figure”. Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill in the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had left the United States.

Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the murder, which he eventually received with the help of an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “Now we're linked,” to which Merchant replied, “yes.” UC then stated, “Now we know we're going ahead. We're doing this,” to which Merchant replied “Yes, absolutely.”

Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12, law enforcement officers arrested Merchant before he could leave the country. Merchant has stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Gilbert Rein and Douglas Pravda for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorneys David Smith and Joshua Champagne of the Homeland Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.”