A Pakistani man who was arrested after an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate US politicians is now facing charges of terrorism.
Investigators allege that Asif Merchant, 46, was aiming politicians from both political sides.
A Pakistani accused of plotting to assassinate prominent American politicians has been charged with terrorism, according to court records.
According to a court document released Tuesday, Asif Merchant, 46, is accused of attempting to commit an act of terrorism that spans across nations and also of hiring someone to murder.
An individual from Pakistan, with family in Iran, was accused of targeting a U.S. politician and official, possibly former President Donald Trump, in a thwarted plot.
The court documents from Tuesday reveal the forfeiture of some of Merchant's possessions, including three cellphones, a laptop, and cash.
The alleged plot of Merchan involved two hit men, 25 actors to stage a fake protest and create more chaos, and a woman to conduct reconnaissance.
It's unclear how much progress he made recruiting other plotters, despite prosecutors alleging that he hired two undercover FBI agents instead of assassins.
The 46-year-old merchant is accused of planning to steal documents and USB drives, but his supposed accomplice betrayed him and set him up with undercover agents posing as hit men.
The merchant first journeyed to Iran and afterward visited the U.S., where he encountered the confidential source, known in FBI records as "CS."
The Justice Department claims that the merchant used clothing items as code words, in addition to pushing CS to establish a yarn-dyed clothing business as a front for their communications.
The individual threads in yarn-dyed fabrics are colored before the piece is woven together. It is alleged that the merchant used fabric weights as code words for different parts of the crime.
Court documents stated that T-shirts were the "lightest work," which referred to the fake protest. Flannel shirts were a little heavier and represented stealing the documents. A fleece jacket, the "heaviest work," symbolized murder.
According to investigators, Merchant's potential targets were individuals on "both sides" of the political spectrum.
According to court documents, Merchant allegedly requested that CS outline various ways the targets could be killed, and the hit men were informed of their official target in late August or early September.
Planet Chronicle' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report
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