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

A Pakistani businessman faces charges after allegedly paying cash to hit men for a 2024 plot targeting U.S. leaders

The scheme unfolded like a scene from a spy thriller: a Pakistani business owner reportedly hired assassins and handed over $5,000 in cash to eliminate a U.S. politician, acting on behalf of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard. The plan, which prosecutors claim targeted current President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, and ex-U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, was revealed during Merchant’s attempted terrorism trial in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday. Despite his claims, the defendant insisted his actions were driven by fear for his family in Iran, believing he would be captured before the plan executed.

“My family was under threat, and I had to do this,” testified Asif Merchant through an Urdu interpreter. “I was not wanting to do this so willingly.”

Merchant, 47, described his journey from a 20-year banking career in Pakistan to diversifying into ventures like clothing, car sales, and banana exports. He maintained dual households—one in Pakistan, the other in Iran—where he met a Revolutionary Guard intelligence operative late in 2022. Their initial discussions centered on hawala networks, but his visits to the U.S. for business sparked further interest. The handler trained him in surveillance evasion techniques, eventually assigning him a mission to locate U.S. residents willing to assist Iran.

The plot involved orchestrating protests, conducting thefts, laundering money, and possibly arranging a murder. Merchant recalled being told to identify three targets: Trump, Biden, and Haley. However, he emphasized that the handler never specified the exact individual to be killed. “He did not tell me exactly who it is, but he told me—three people: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Nikki Haley,” he stated.

Authorities intercepted Merchant’s efforts when U.S. immigration agents detained him at Houston airport in April 2024. After searching his belongings and inquiring about his travels to Iran, he concluded he was being monitored. Despite this, he continued researching Trump’s rally locations, drafted a shooting plan, and gathered funds from a relative to pay his supposed accomplices. He also sent fabricated intelligence to Iran via a book delivered through intermediaries.

Merchant claimed he felt compelled to cooperate because the handler knew his Iranian relatives’ details. However, prosecutors argue he failed to alert law enforcement before his arrest, and his FBI interviews lacked information that could justify duress. “You traveled to the United States for the purpose of hiring Mafia members to kill a politician, correct?” asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Gupta during cross-examination. “That’s right,” Merchant replied, his tone unassuming yet unusual.

The trial occurs amid ongoing tensions in the Iran war, where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a recent strike. Trump referred to the event as “I got him before he got me,” highlighting its significance. Jurors were directed to disregard external news about the case, as the Iranian government denies involvement in the alleged plot. Merchant’s defense hinges on his belief that he would be captured before the attack materialized, but his testimony has drawn scrutiny over its credibility.