Pakistani man charged with plot to assassinate US official pleads not guilty

A Pakistani national with alleged ties to Iran, Asif Merchant, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot aimed at high-profile US politicians, including former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and former US Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, was arraigned at the Brooklyn Federal Court on charges of terrorism transcending national boundaries and murder-for-hire.

The indictment, filed on September 10, accuses him of paying undercover FBI agents to carry out the assassination plot on US soil.

Although the targets were not named in the indictment, Senator Chuck Grassley had earlier indicated that Trump, Biden, and Haley were among the potential figures.

Read Who is Asif Merchant? The Pakistani national detained in US

According to court documents, Merchant, 46, arrived in the US from Pakistan in April after spending time in Iran. Shortly after his arrival, he approached a person he believed could assist in his plot to kill US government officials.

The person reported Merchant's activities to law enforcement and became a confidential source.

In early June, Merchant allegedly met with the source in New York, discussing plans to target politicians. During the conversation, he made a "finger gun" gesture, signaling an intent to kill.

He also emphasized that the assassination plot would be ongoing and that he would communicate with the source using code words after leaving the US.

Later that month, Merchant allegedly met with undercover FBI agents posing as hitmen. He reportedly paid them $5,000 in advance to carry out the killings, telling them the instructions for the target would come later in August or September.

However, before he could finalise his plans and flee the country, Merchant was arrested by federal agents on July 12, the same day he was scheduled to depart the US

At his arraignment, Merchant, wearing a tan jumpsuit and an orange shirt, sat between his attorney, Avraham Moskowitz, and an interpreter. While Merchant speaks English, the interpreter was provided to ensure he did not miss any legal details in Urdu.

Moskowitz raised concerns about Merchant’s detention conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center, highlighting that his client had lost between 15 to 20 pounds due to not receiving a proper halal diet.

He described these conditions as "torture," a claim that the government said it was unaware of.

The US Attorney General, Merrick Garland, issued a statement last week, condemning the plot.

"The Justice Department will not tolerate Iran’s efforts to target our country’s public officials and endanger our national security. We will continue to hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against Americans."

FBI Director Christopher Wray echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat. "A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any US citizen, is a grave risk to our national security and will be met with the full force of the FBI," Wray said.

Merchant's next court appearance is scheduled for November 6. He remains in federal custody.