Pakistani man convicted of plotting to assassinate Trump

A Pakistani man was convicted of planning the assassination of President Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Nikki Haley in 2024, at the behest of Iran, the Department of Justice reported this Friday (6). 📱Download the g1 app to see news in real time and for free Asif Merchant was accused of trying to recruit people in the USA to carry out a plan that targeted American politicians. According to American justice, the Pakistani was seeking retaliation for the assassination of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani by Washington in 2020, when Trump was in his first term. Merchant was convicted of “contract murder and attempting to commit an act of terrorism that transcends national borders” at the behest of Iranian authorities, according to the US Department of Justice. Defendant Traveled to New York City to Hire Hitmen Reuters/Jane Rosenberg “This man landed on American soil with the intention of killing President Trump — instead, he was met with the might of American law enforcement,” said Attorney General Bondi. The trial took place in the Brooklyn neighborhood of New York City, beginning days before Trump ordered an attack on Iran, carried out in conjunction with Israel. Merchant admitted to taking part in the plot with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but claimed he did so against his will to protect his family in Tehran. Merchant said he never received orders to kill a specific person, but that his Iranian contact mentioned three people during conversations in the Iranian capital. Merchant allegedly planned for the assassination to occur after he left the United States U.S. Department of Justice/Handout via Reuters A person Merchant contacted in April 2024 to help with the plot reported his activities and became an informant, preventing the attack from taking place. The Pakistani was arrested and pleaded not guilty that same year. Tehran has denied accusations that it had targeted Trump or other US officials.

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