Newly released undercover video played in a Brooklyn courtroom shows an alleged murder-for-hire targeting Donald Trump during the 2024 election cycle, according to trial evidence cited by prosecutors.
The footage, reported by the New York Post, shows the accused agent describing the plan and demonstrating it using a pen to symbolize the intended target.
Alleged Plot and “Target” Demonstration
Prosecutors identify the defendant as Asif Merchant, a Pakistani man who is accused of trying to hire two people he believed to be hitmen.
In a video published by the New York Post and Iran International English, Merchant allegedly places a pen on a napkin to represent a target.
“This is the goal. How will he die?” The businessman says in the recording, according to the footage shown to the jury.
During the meeting on June 4, 2024, he also stated, “Look, it’s very easy to kill this one from here,” while gesturing to an object in a hotel room allegedly equipped with hidden cameras.
Although Trump was not specifically named in the exchange, court documents suggest he was the intended target.
FBI operations and the testimony of informants
The alleged scheme began to unravel after a Pakistani-American acquaintance alerted authorities. The FBI became involved in the investigation, holding secret meetings that were recorded.
The informant, speaking under the alias “Nadeem Ali,” said he agreed to cooperate after becoming suspicious of Merchant’s intentions.
“This is not a one-time job. The work will continue,” Merchant allegedly told him, according to testimony presented in court.
Ali also testified that he was paid $20,000 for assisting in the sting operation.
Arrests and Charges
Merchant was arrested in July 2024 while trying to leave the United States. He pleaded not guilty to charges including murder for hire and attempted cross-border terrorism.
He faces life in prison if convicted.
Alleged foreign links
U.S. officials have described Merchant as an agent of the Iranian regime, although he did not specifically identify his alleged handler during recorded conversations.
Authorities say tensions between Washington and Iran have escalated since the 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
In November 2024, the United States Department of Justice released indictments regarding a separate alleged assassination attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The trial continues in Brooklyn
Merchant’s trial is underway in federal court in Brooklyn, where prosecutors say the secret tapes show intent and coordination.
He maintains his innocence as jurors review video evidence and witness testimony in the high-profile case.
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