HOUSTON — We’re learning more about a man from Pakistan who was arrested at his home in the Houston area last month after the FBI says he tried to hire hitmen to kill U.S. politicians, including former President Donald Trump.
The feds say the suspect has connections to Iran and believe his motive was related to the killing of an Iranian military leader by U.S. forces four years ago.
Federal prosecutors 45-year-old Pakistani national Asif Merchant paid undercover agents $5,000 as a retainer, thinking they were hitmen. They said he came to the U.S. in April to recruit killers.
The FBI said Merchant was living in Houston and contacted an associate to help with his plan. Instead, the associate became a confidential source for the FBI, alerting them of the alleged plot and allowing agents to pose as hitmen.
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In June, the feds say Merchant traveled to New York city to recruit what he thought were assassins. According to court documents, he mapped out the ways the politicians could be killed on a napkin.
In addition to murder-for-hire, Merchant allegedly wanted them to organize political protests as a distraction, steal documents and launder money for him.
Prosecutors say Merchant paid the undercover agents $5,000 in advance of the assassinations and told them more details would come later after he was out of the country.
Right before Merchant was set to fly out of the country, the FBI said agents arrested him at his home in Houston on July 12.
Court documents state Merchant wouldn’t open his door for 20 minutes after the federal agents had identified themselves outside of his home.
Eventually, agents were able to search his residence and say they found a napkin with code words related to the plot on a napkin in his wallet.
Merchant has one wife and children in Pakistan and another wife and children in Iran.
They believe the motive for the plot is revenge for the killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani by U.S. forces in 2020.
Prosecutors have asked that Merchant remain in custody because he is a flight risk and a danger to the public.
Although Merchant was arrested one day before the attempted assassination of former President Trump, the FBI says the two plots are not connected.