Federal authorities disrupted an alleged attempt by Iranian operatives to target President-elect Donald Trump in a second assassination plot.
The Department of Justice released an indictment revealing plans to kill Trump, an Iranian dissident, and two Jewish Americans in the U.S. this week.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland noted the extreme national security threat posed by Iran, stating, “There are few actors in the world that pose as grave a threat to the national security of the United States as does Iran.”
“The Justice Department has charged an asset of the Iranian regime who was tasked by the regime to direct a network of criminal associates to further Iran’s assassination plots against its targets, including President-elect Donald Trump,” he added.
Farhad Shakeri, 51, an Iranian, faces charges like murder-for-hire, conspiracy, money laundering, and providing support to a foreign terrorist organization. Shakeri, who is still at large, could be inside Iran. If convicted, he faces a potential 100-year sentence.
Prosecutors identified Shakeri as an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asset residing in Tehran. Deported from the U.S. in 2008 after a robbery conviction, Shakeri allegedly activated his criminal contacts from prison to aid the IRGC in executing their assassination plans.
In a conversation with an IRGC official about the price to kill Trump, Shakeri indicated it would be “huge.” The IRGC official responded, “We have already spent a lot of money,” signaling their commitment to continue funding this endeavor.
Just a month ago, during a meeting with the IRGC, Shakeri was told to devise a plan to assassinate Trump within a week, considering the possibility that it might be easier after the elections if Trump lost.
Carlisle Rivera AKA Pop, 49, from Brooklyn, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, from Staten Island, were arrested for their role in the plot against the dissident and two Jewish Americans.
FBI Director Christopher Wray condemned Iran’s audacity in targeting U.S. citizens, including Trump, noting the IRGC’s collaboration with criminals to attack Americans on U.S. soil “simply won’t be tolerated.”
