Posted on 08/06/2024 4:48:23 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The FBI is claiming to have foiled a sophisticated Iran-sponsored terror plot, in which a Pakistani was attempting to hire hitmen to carry out political assassinations on U.S. soil.
But the court records show that the “hitmen” were, in fact, undercover FBI agents.
The case looks similar to the supposed 2022 Iran plot to kill former national security adviser John Bolton. In that case, the FBI claimed that a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Qods Force tried assassinating Bolton—but the Iranian was never confirmed to be an IRGC-QF member, and the “assassin” he was trying to hire was an FBI informant.
In the case announced Tuesday, the Justice Department said that the defendant, Asif Merchant, traveled to New York in April for the purpose of paying a $5,000 advance to the two undercover U.S. law enforcement officers. Merchant was arrested last month before he could leave the U.S.
“Fortunately, the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were undercover FBI Agents,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office.
Court documents do not identify any of the potential targets, and parts of the complaint remain sealed—the DOJ cited an ongoing investigation for the secrecy. The court docs do not in any way explain how Iran was involved in the Pakistani’s hairbrained scheme.
In February, however, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, revealed that the Biden administration had previously gone to great lengths to conceal Iranian assassination threats against Trump administration officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“They find public discussion of Iran’s aggression politically inconvenient because it gets in the way of their appeasement of the regime,” Cruz revealed during a hearing for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The new DOJ bombshell arrices just weeks after U.S. officials disclosed that a threat on Donald Trump’s life from Iran prompted additional security in the days before a Pennsylvania rally last month in which Trump was injured by a gunman’s bullet.
That shooting, carried out by a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, has no apparent connection to Iran. Merchant was arrested on July 12, one day before the rally where Trump was shot, and the instructions prosecutors say he gave to the men he thought he was hiring were for killings to take place in August or September — after he had left the country.
Federal officials identified Merchant as a Pakistani citizen who has said he has a wife and children in Iran. He traveled frequently to Iran, Syria and Iraq, the Justice Department said.
U.S. officials have warned for years about Iran’s desire to avenge the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, who led the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force. That strike was ordered by Trump.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Was the fey Wray running this guy?
Yep, just pin it on someone else and the Fedblob is exonerated. “We didn’t do it. It must have been those pesky Russians, I mean, Iranians. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
People protecting in Butler that day were not fired. Still in charge now. Are any candidates safe today? Iran is even more fired up to do harm due to the Israel situation. Bad sign.
Why indulge in conspiracy when simple incompetence will accomplish the task?
look over here not over there
Are they really going with this?
Iranian asassins at a briefing.
"But the court records show that the “hitmen” were, in fact, undercover FBI agents."
“The FIB claims...”
Actually I assume things are a conspiracy unless the facts later disprove that. 😉
But it’s true if candidates are “protected” shoddily then Iranians can relax.
How convenient is that?!
The FBI.. is the Federal Bureau of Lying now. I really REALLY regret those 51 Intelligence Agents signing saying the Hunter Laptop was a Russian Hoax.. then infiltrating the ranks of the honest folks in Washington D.C. like myself on J6. They lost a LOT of public trust when they did this. I don’t belive a single thing in this article. Heavens knows what evil tricks they are up to now.
Because conspiracy is a crime?
They have to “find” something since the “20 year old did it” had no legs. No one with a brain believes it. All of it points to an inside job. Now it’s plan B, blame Iran, since Russia would be laughable (they used that one). They didn’t have a contingency plan if President Trump wasn’t killed. They are desperately trying to cover all of it up. It’s not 1963 anymore. Everyone has access to information via computers, cell phones, etc. No amount of ‘scrubbing’ will remove it all. It’s like watching the keystone cops.
https://scotthorton.org/interviews/9-21-23-ken-silva-on-fbi-created-terrorist-plots-and-nazi-groups/
Oh, puh-LEEEZE.
They need to pick their one patsy and stick with him.
They are just trying to take pressure off the SS. This was an inside job.
This source is as biased as CNN...just from the opposite side.
First the author claims there is no apparent connection to Iran, then at the end admits there is :
“Federal officials identified Merchant as a Pakistani citizen who has said he has a wife and children in Iran. He traveled frequently to Iran, Syria and Iraq, the Justice Department said.”
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