US Charges Afghan National in Alleged Iranian Plot to Assassinate Trump
The U.S. government has filed charges against an Afghan national, Farhad Shakeri, 51, who is allegedly connected to an Iranian scheme to assassinate former President Donald Trump. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Shakeri, believed to be in Iran, was assigned to devise a plan targeting Trump.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “The Justice Department has charged an Iranian regime asset tasked with directing a network of criminal associates to further Iran’s assassination plots.” This network allegedly extended to two other individuals, who were recruited to kill an outspoken American journalist critical of Iran’s leadership.
The other defendants, identified as Carlisle Rivera, 49, from Brooklyn, and Jonathon Loadholt, 36, from Staten Island, were detained in the Southern District of New York and are awaiting trial. Shakeri allegedly used prison connections to enlist them to surveil and target individuals at Iran’s behest, promising a payment of $100,000 to kill the journalist.
Brooklyn-based journalist Masih Alinejad shared on social media that two men were arrested for allegedly attempting to murder her. She said, “I came to America to practice my First Amendment right to freedom of speech—I don’t want to die. I want to fight against tyranny and deserve to be safe.”
The indictment suggests the plot against Trump was paused when Shakeri advised Iranian contacts that it would be easier to target him if he lost the election. The DOJ also claims that Shakeri was directed to plan a mass shooting of Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka in October 2024.
Shakeri, Rivera, and Loadholt face charges of murder-for-hire, money laundering conspiracy, and additional criminal charges, carrying potential prison sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years.
