Man pleads not guilty in alleged Trump assassination plot – Washington Examiner
A Pakistani national named Asif Merchant, reportedly linked to Iran, has pleaded not guilty to terrorism and murder-for-hire charges connected to a plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump. After arriving in the U.S. in April, Merchant allegedly sought assistance from an individual to kill a politician, who informed law enforcement. He subsequently met with individuals posing as assassins, who were undercover FBI agents, leading to his arrest in July. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to combating Iran’s threats against American officials. Documents reveal that President Joe Biden and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley were also mentioned as possible targets in the plot. Merchant was indicted on September 10, following his arrest during an attempted escape.
Man pleads not guilty in alleged Trump assassination plot
Iran-tied Pakistani national Asif Merchant pleaded not guilty on Monday to terrorism and murder-for-hire charges for his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
Merchant arrived in the United States in April after spending time in Iran and allegedly reached out to someone he thought could assist him in killing a politician. The person he contacted reported this to law enforcement, and Merchant later met with “hit men” who were really undercover FBI agents, leading to his arrest in July.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate Iran’s efforts to target our country’s public officials and endanger our national security,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “As these terrorism and murder-for-hire charges against Asif Merchant demonstrate, we will continue to hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against Americans.”
President Joe Biden and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley were also discussed as targets in the Iran-backed plot, according to documents released by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
Merchant was indicted on Sept. 10 but was arrested in July when he attempted to flee the country after allegedly paying undercover agents to assassinate “politicians, military people, or bureaucrats.”
“This dangerous murder-for-hire plot was allegedly orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian regime’s playbook,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. “A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a serious threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI. Protecting Americans from terrorists remains our highest priority.”
News of Merchant’s arraignment was overshadowed on Monday when another plot to assassinate Trump was foiled just yards from where the former president was golfing. Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly hid in the bushes at Trump International Golf Club and waited for Trump with an AK-47 before being spotted and shot at by the Secret Service.
Trump was grazed by a bullet during an assassination attempt on July 13 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The July attack committed by Thomas Matthew Crooks killed one rallygoer and wounded two others.
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