Federal authorities have charged Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national, in a plot to potentially assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York has unveiled a detailed complaint that reads like a script from a Hollywood movie, outlining Merchant’s elaborate plan to kill Trump and other high-profile U.S. officials.

Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, stands accused of conspiring to commit murder for hire. The 46-year-old, who has ties to Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq, reportedly masterminded the plot from overseas, traveling to the U.S. to recruit hitmen for the job.

According to the FBI, the plot began to take shape in April 2024, when Merchant flew from Pakistan to Houston, Texas. Under the guise of discussing business opportunities, he reached out to a confidential source who eventually alerted law enforcement to the nefarious scheme. This source then introduced Merchant to two undercover law enforcement officers posing as hitmen.

In a series of covert meetings in New York, Merchant revealed his chilling intentions. He allegedly offered $100,000 for the assassination of Trump and other officials, describing a multifaceted plan involving theft, protests, and murder. Merchant reportedly told the undercover officers that the targets “are the ones who are hurting Pakistan and the Muslim world.” Merchant’s meticulous planning included the use of coded language and multiple cellular phones to avoid detection.

He referred to the assassination as “heavy work,” using phrases like “yarn-dye” and “fleece jacket” to discuss the murder plot and financial transactions. His conspiratorial language and tactics point to a sophisticated understanding of tradecraft and operational security. In June 2024, Merchant allegedly took a significant step towards actualizing his plan.

After discussing details with the confidential source in a Nassau County hotel, he met with the undercover officers in Manhattan, handing over $5,000 in cash as an advance payment for the hit. He assured the officers of more money to come, arranging for the transfer through the informal “hawala” system. The FBI’s investigation revealed that Merchant’s plot was part of a larger scheme possibly orchestrated by adversaries of the U.S.

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The complaint references previous Iranian threats to U.S. officials, suggesting a larger geopolitical motive behind Merchant’s actions. Merchant’s arrest on July 12, 2024, marked the culmination of months of undercover work by federal agents. Authorities apprehended him as he prepared to leave the country, finding a handwritten note in his wallet with the coded language he used to communicate about the plot.

A source familiar with the investigation informed CNN that no ties have been discovered between Merchant and the recent Butler, Pennsylvania shooting. The FBI is confident that they thwarted Merchant’s alleged plot well in advance, and he has been assisting with the investigation since his capture, U.S. authorities confirm. Due to Iran’s public threats against former President Trump, the FBI relayed this crucial intelligence to the Secret Service, resulting in ramped-up security measures for Trump, according to officials. The U.S. government has voiced ongoing concerns that Iran might seek vengeance for the 2020 U.S. drone strike that eliminated Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a leading figure in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

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