Senator Chuck Grassley disclosed FBI documents indicating an Iranian-backed plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, and ex-U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley. The revelations came from law enforcement whistleblowers and were made public after Grassley obtained the records.
The documents, which were later removed from Grassley’s Senate page, included details from an interview with Asif Merchant, a Pakistani man involved in the conspiracy. Merchant described discussions with his handler, Mehardad Yousef, about potential assassination targets, mentioning that Trump was the primary target due to his role in the killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani. However, he also noted that Biden and Haley were considered as possible targets.
Grassley emphasized the importance of transparency from federal agencies, stating, “I won’t stop pressing for answers until Congress and the American people are afforded the transparency they deserve.” In contrast, the FBI criticized the release of the documents, arguing that it jeopardizes ongoing investigations and public safety, particularly regarding threats from adversaries like Iran.