Pakistani man with Iran ties charged with plot to kill US politician

(NewsNation) — A Pakistani man with ties to Iran has been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate a U.S. politician, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, 46, was arrested in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. politician on U.S. soil, allegedly attempting to hire a hit man to do the job.

Law enforcement officers stopped the plan before it could take place, using undercover officers, according to charging documents.

“This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s complaint allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI.”  

Merchant is alleged to have contacted someone he believed could help him with the scheme after arriving in the U.S. from Pakistan, h...