Sens. Johnson, Blumenthal, Paul, and Peters Request DHS and FBI Provide Information on Individual with Ties to Iran in Connection with Foiled Assassination Plot

WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray requesting information on a foiled plot to assassinate U.S. government officials.

Following the senators' initial July 24, 2024 requests, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national with ties to Iran, who the Department alleges "orchestrated a plot to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on U.S. soil." Public reports indicate this may have included former President Trump. The FBI was reportedly aware of Merchant before he arrived in the U.S., and sponsored his immigration parole for "security interests."

The senators are requesting information to understand the extent of FBI's and DHS's awareness of Merchant and his plot, as well as whether and how intelligence on any election security threats was disseminated to relevant agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, and related security decisions.

Read more about the senators' August 14, 2024 letter in Fox News.

Full text of the letter can be found here.

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