US DOJ charges 3 Iranians over plot to Trump assassination before election News
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US DOJ charges 3 Iranians over plot to Trump assassination before election

The US Department of Justice Friday unsealed criminal charges related to an alleged thwarted Iranian plot to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump prior to this week’s presidential election. According to a criminal complaint in a Manhattan federal court, an unnamed official from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard instructed Farjad Shakeri in September to develop a surveillance and assassination plan targeting Trump.

According to the complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, Iranian national Farhad Shakeri, 51, was tasked by the Iranian government with surveilling and plotting to assassinate a US citizen who has publicly opposed the Iranian regime. Shakeri, who resides in Tehran, allegedly used a network of associates he met while serving time in prison in the US to carry out the plot.

The plot was uncovered through a joint investigation by the FBI’s New York Field Office, the US Customs and Border Protection New York Field Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division.

In addition to targeting the US citizen, Shakeri also allegedly discussed plans to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump with law enforcement agents. According to the complaint, Shakeri claimed he did not intend to propose a plan to kill Trump within the timeframe set by the Iranian government.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in the announcement:

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… We will not stand for the Iranian regime’s attempts to endanger the American people and America’s national security.

Two of Shakeri’s associates, Carlisle Rivera, 49, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, both of New York City, were arrested on Tuesday and charged with participating in the scheme. The complaint alleges that Rivera and Loadholt spent months surveilling the targeted individual and were promised $100,000 by Shakeri for their efforts.

The charges against Shakeri, Rivera, and Loadholt are part of a larger effort by law enforcement agencies to disrupt Iranian intelligence operations in the US. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases involving Iranian nationals attempting to spy on or harm US citizens.

“This case highlights the ongoing threat posed by Iran’s intelligence services to US citizens and interests,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers.

According to the warrant, Shakeri remains at large and is believed to be residing in Iran.

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