Asif Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani, has been charged with terrorism following an indictment that accuses him of plotting to assassinate U.S. government officials.
Initially arrested in July on a murder-for-hire charge, Merchant now faces additional charges in the Eastern District of New York.
Merchant allegedly traveled to the U.S. with the intent to recruit individuals for his assassination plot.
Reports indicate that his targets may have included prominent figures such as former President Donald Trump, though specific names have not been disclosed.
The indictment alleges that Merchant attempted to kill someone within the U.S. government or military.
Merchant, who reportedly has connections to Iran and a family there, visited Iran in April 2024 before arriving in the U.S. During this trip, he met with a co-conspirator who later became an FBI informant. It is said that Merchant detailed his plans extensively, even sketching them out on a napkin in a New York hotel room.
In an undercover operation, Merchant was under the impression that he was meeting hitmen to advance his plot. He had intended to reveal further details about his targets in late August or early September 2024.
Federal authorities apprehended him just before he was set to travel abroad, discovering notes related to his assassination plan during his arrest.
Merchant has remained in custody and pleaded not guilty to the original charge. He has not yet been arraigned on the new terrorism charge.
The case has heightened concerns about potential threats from Iran against U.S. officials, leading to increased security for political figures.
Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to robustly addressing threats to national security, underscoring the gravity of the charges against Merchant.
