Grassley drops FBI records on Iranian-backed assassination plots against Trump, Biden, and Haley

Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley on Thursday released FBI records from a whistleblower on the alleged Iranian-backed assassination plots against President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and Nikki Haley. 

The assassination plots were allegedly in retaliation for the death of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corp officer Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by the United States during Trump's presidency in 2020. 

The reports revealed Iran was targeting U.S. "politicians, military people or bureaucrats," that it believed was connected to Soleimani's death. Asif Merchant, a native Pakistani with ties to Iran, has been arrested in an alleged plot to assassinate Trump.

"Bad actors are determined to wreak havoc on our country, and American political leaders across both parties are sitting squarely in the crosshairs," Grassley said in a statement reported by Fox News. "In this extraordinarily heightened threat environment, federal agencies ought to be laser focused on building up public trust and reassuring the American people of their efforts to carry out their protective missions."

Merchant told the FBI that he believed he would receive $50,000 for fatally shooting Trump. He claimed that he could shoot Trump in both indoor and outdoor settings, and that he believed he had a 50% chance of success. He communicated with Iran through notes that were smuggled in packages for extended family members.

Iran has denied reports of an Iranian plot to kill Trump, claiming the former president should be tried in court for ordering the assassination of Soleimani but not assassinated.

Grassley said he opted to publish the documents from the whistleblower because an FBI and Homeland Security briefing was not fully transparent.

"The FBI does not comment specifically on documents allegedly disclosed without authorization," the FBI said told the outlet. "Public disclosure about sensitive, ongoing national security investigations and potential cooperation from subjects is irresponsible and undermines the FBI's ability to conduct thorough investigations and enforcement actions that keep Americans safe. It also puts lives at risk, especially when you are dealing with an adversary like Iran." 

The report comes after Trump survived a different assassination attempt in July, which is not believed to be connected to a foreign adversary. The assassination attempt, which left Trump injured in his right ear, was orchestrated by a lone gunman.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.