New details of Iran-backed assassination plots against Trump, Biden, and others are released by Grassley.
An assassin chosen by Iran was allegedly a native of Pakistan named Asif Merchant.
On Thursday, Senator Chuck Grassley made public FBI records revealing that Iranian-backed assassins aimed to kill former President Donald Trump and other prominent American politicians in retaliation for the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Quds Force.
Senator Grassley demands answers from the Secret Service regarding explosive claims in bodycam footage related to a Trump assassination attempt. He stated that bad actors are targeting American political leaders across both parties, including President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and former candidate Nikki Haley. Grassley emphasized the need for federal agencies to focus on building public trust and reassuring the American people of their protective efforts. He vowed to continue pressing for answers until transparency is afforded to Congress and the American people.
Asif Merchant, a native of Pakistan with ties to Iran, has been charged for his role in the assassination plot. He has also provided evidence to the FBI in a proffer agreement.
The FBI records indicate that Merchant believed he was involved in a kill-for-hire scheme that would pay him $50,000 for successfully assassinating former President Trump. During his interrogation, Merchant suggested shooting Trump at both indoor and outdoor speaking engagements. He also stated that he could hit a target from close range or further away, and that a pistol would be best for indoor shooting while a rifle was necessary for outdoor shooting. Merchant believed he had a 50% chance of success.
Asif Merchant communicated with Iran through English language notes concealed in packages for various extended family members.
Some congressional Republicans have claimed that the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in July was orchestrated by foreign actors from Iran or Pakistan. Grassley's office has been pushing for the release of bodycam footage from local police in Pennsylvania since the assassination attempt, demanding accountability from multiple agencies. Grassley stated that a DHS-FBI briefing from earlier this week "once again failed to provide full transparency," prompting him to write a letter and disclose the unclassified proffer to the public. The FBI did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.
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