In yet another bizarre story in this 2024 election cycle, a Pakistani national with ties to Iran has been arrested and charged with "murder for hire", that included former president Donald Trump, according to the DOJ.
According to the arrest warrant, Asif Merchant, 46 intended to target high-ranking U.S. officials, potentially including former president Donald Trump. And he flew to Houston to try and hire assassins, which turned out to be undercover FBI Agents.
Merchant was arrested on July 12 while preparing to leave the U.S. in New York, authorities said. He told investigators that he has a wife and children in Iran and another wife and children in Pakistan.
"Fortunately, the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were undercover FBI Agents," said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office. "This case underscores 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 FBI’s commitment to protecting our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats."
"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."
This case was investigated weeks before a gunman tried to kill former President Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.