A Pakistani man with ties to Iran is accused of plotting to assassinate a U.S. politician on American soil — and he discussed former President Donald Trump as one of his possible targets, according to a source familiar with the case.
Asif Raza Merchant, 46, was charged in Brooklyn Federal Court with murder-for-hire, accused of trying to hire a hit man as part of a multi-phase plot culminating in August or September, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Merchant spent time in Iran, then flew to the U.S. from Pakistan in April and contacted someone he thought would be able to help him with the scheme, according to federal prosecutors.
His contact reported him to law enforcement, though, and became a confidential informant for the feds.
After meeting with the informant in New York in June, the two tried to recruit hit men, actually undercover officers, paying them $5,000 in advance, the feds allege.
Though the criminal complaint against Merchant does not name the politician he wanted to kill, he floated Trump’s name as a potential target, the source said.
Merchant was arrested in Texas on July 15, and presented before a Brooklyn magistrate judge on July 17. He remains held without bail. The case was unsealed Tuesday.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
