Pakistani assassin has been charged in an alleged plot to k*ll US politicians and possibly Trump

A Pakistani assassin has been charged in an alleged plot to k*ll US politicians and possibly Trump.

The defendant is 46-year-old Asif Merchant. According to Senator Chuck Grassley, Trump, Biden, and Nikki Haley were possible targets.

Merchant reportedly arrived in the United States from Pakistan in April. He then traveled from Houston, Texas, to New York City to meet with a confidential source and a pair of hitmen.

Fox News reports, "Prosecutors say he paid those hitmen $5,000 to carry out his assassination plan. But, you know, those hitmen turned out to be FBI undercover agents."

Merchant allegedly discussed the plot in detail during a meeting in a hotel room, including a plan to stage a fake political protest to distract the Secret Service. At the meeting, Merchant "pointed to the target and repeatedly asked the CS (confidential source) to explain how the target would die," according to the court documents.

The plot is believed to be retaliation for the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020, which was ordered by former President Trump. Merchant’s lawyer has stated that he will plead not guilty, but if convicted, he could face life in prison.