Man on trial in assassination plot says possible targets included Trump, Biden, Haley
Man on Trial in Assassination Plot Claims Targets Included Trump, Biden, Haley
During an attempted terrorism trial in New York, a Pakistani man testified that he had conspired to assassinate a U.S. official, with potential victims including President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, and ex-U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. The scheme, described as resembling a spy film, involved hiring hitmen and paying them $5,000 in cash, all under the direction of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, according to the defendant.
Asif Merchant, 47, explained his actions as a response to fear for his family in Iran, stating he believed he would be captured before any harm occurred. “My family was under threat, and I had to do this,” he said through an Urdu interpreter, emphasizing that he did not act with full willingness. Merchant claimed he anticipated arrest, intended to cooperate with U.S. authorities, and hoped this would assist him in obtaining a green card.
Arrest and FBI Involvement
Merchant’s plans were uncovered when U.S. immigration agents detained him at the Houston airport in April 2024, searching his belongings and inquiring about his trips to Iran. This prompted him to conclude he was being monitored. Despite this, he continued researching Trump’s rally locations, drafting a plan for a political assassination, and arranging fake hitmen, including a $5,000 payment from a cousin as a symbolic gesture.
“You traveled to the United States for the purpose of hiring Mafia members to kill a politician, correct?” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Gupta asked during the trial. “That’s right,” Merchant replied, his tone as unemotional as his account was extraordinary.
The trial takes place amid the ongoing Iran conflict, which saw the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a recent strike. Trump characterized the event as a “I got him before he got me” moment. Jurors were instructed to disregard news related to the case, though the Iranian government has denied involvement in targeting U.S. officials.
Background of the Defendant
Before his alleged involvement in the plot, Merchant had a 20-year banking career in Pakistan. He later diversified into businesses such as clothing, car sales, banana exports, and insulation imports. Merchant maintains dual residences, one in Pakistan and another in Iran, where he met a Revolutionary Guard intelligence operative around late 2022.
Initially, their discussions focused on hawala systems, but the contact soon proposed more dangerous tasks. Merchant testified that his visits to the U.S. for his garment business caught the operative’s attention, leading to training in countersurveillance methods. The Revolutionary Guard, formally known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is designated as a “foreign terrorist organization” by the U.S.
“He did not tell me exactly who it is, but he told me — he named three people: Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley,” Merchant recalled during his testimony. He added that he felt compelled to comply because the handler knew his Iranian relatives’ identities and addresses.
Prosecutors highlighted that Merchant did not seek law enforcement assistance before his arrest, despite his concerns. They argued that he failed to disclose details that could have shown his actions were taken under pressure. Merchant, however, insisted that agents would not believe his story, as their questions implied skepticism about his role as a “super-spy.”
