US Senator Chuck Grassley has released FBI documents revealing an Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump in response to the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020. The documents reveal that Pakistani national Asif Merchant, who has ties to Tehran, was hired to carry out the mission. Iran offered him $50,000 to kill Trump at a political event. Merchant discussed with Iranian handlers the use of a sniper rifle to successfully complete the task, but estimated the chances of success at 50%.
The plot was part of a broader plan to exact revenge on senior US officials, including current President Joe Biden and former US ambassador Nikki Haley. Merchant maintained contact with Iranian agents through relatives in the United States, allowing investigators to establish details of his connection to Tehran.
Previously, Cursor wrote that the FBI released new data on the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, committed on July 13 in Pennsylvania by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. The investigation revealed that Crooks was not politically active, but had been interested in mass shootings and making explosives since 2019. His internet activities included searching for information on creating explosives and analyzing historic assassination attempts such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Investigators theorize that the criminals tried to carry out a high-profile attack to gain attention, despite the absence of obvious political motives.
At the same time, the shooter’s motives remain unknown.
