WASHINGTON D.C. (National Presse) – A complaint unsealed in Brooklyn charges Asif Merchant, 46, with murder-for-hire in a plot to assassinate a U.S. politician or government official. Merchant, now in federal custody, allegedly planned the attack with ties to Iran. The plot was uncovered before any harm could be done.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to countering threats against American officials, while FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted the threat to national security. U.S. Attorney Breon Peace stated that the prosecution demonstrates the Department of Justice’s dedication to protecting national security.
Read the complaint here.
Merchant allegedly arrived in the U.S. from Pakistan in April 2024 after spending time in Iran. He contacted a person, who became a confidential source (CS) and reported the plot to law enforcement. In June, Merchant met the CS in New York and outlined plans to steal documents, arrange protests, and assassinate a politician. He met undercover FBI agents posing as hitmen and paid them $5,000 as an advance for the assassination.
Merchant planned to leave the U.S. on July 12, 2024, but was arrested by law enforcement before he could depart. The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Gilbert Rein, and Douglas Pravda, along with National Security Division’s Trial Attorneys David Smith and Joshua Champagne, are prosecuting the case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
