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Read more from Ben Wolfgang via The Washington Times
In the letter, the Chairmen state, “On August 6, 2024, the Department of Justice unsealed a 15-page complaint charging Merchant with an alleged murder-for-hire scheme to kill a U.S. government official. According to the complaint, Merchant traveled from Pakistan to Istanbul, Turkey, and then to Houston, Texas, to enlist individuals in the United States to execute his assassination scheme. Merchant’s plot to murder a U.S. government official involved various plans, including stealing documents or USB drives from a U.S. government official’s residence and planning a protest. With the assistance of a confidential human source, law enforcement officials foiled the plot by arresting Merchant on July 12, before he could leave the United States. A federal judge has ordered him detained on July 17.”
The Chairmen continue, “Merchant’s foiled plot follows another scheme when an Iranian national and member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force orchestrated the attempted assassination of John Bolton, the former U.S. National Security Advisor. Subsequently, it was revealed that Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State, was a second target of the same plot. Credible threats by Iran have continued to persist against former Secretary Pompeo, as well as his former top aide, Brian Hook, who served as special representative for Iran during the Trump administration. These plots also include Iran’s efforts to silence those who publicly criticize the regime’s human rights abuses.”
The Chairmen conclude, “We have serious concerns about the inadequate, and lack of, actions taken by the Biden-Harris administration to impose consequences on the Iranian regime, including efforts to protect our national security and American citizens from foreign threats.”
Background:
The House Committee on Homeland Security has spearheaded congressional efforts to counter Iran and transnational repression:
· In March of this year, the Committee held a hearing to examine the persistent, malicious, and growing activity by Iranian-backed terrorist groups and other threats, such as recent plots against U.S. officials and transnational repression by the regime on U.S. soil.
· In the hearing, Robert Wells, assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division at the FBI told members, “The FBI believes Iran is capable of a variety of attack options against US targets, to include cyber operations intended to sabotage public and private infrastructure, and targeted assassinations of individuals who are deemed to be a threat to the regime or its stability. The FBI continues to use intelligence to identify threats related to Iran’s lethal capabilities targeting US persons.”
· In October 2023, the Committee held a hearing to examine and assess the threats posed by the Iranian regime to U.S. homeland security and that of our partners.
· In the hearing, Iranian-American journalist and women’s rights activist, Masih Alinejad, detailed accounts of the Iranian regime’s assassination plot against her, as well as its intimidation of those who work with her.
· In April, the Committee advanced bipartisan legislation to counter transnational repression on U.S. soil. This included:
· The “Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2024,”H.R. 7443, introduced by Chairman Pfluger.
· The “Law Enforcement Support and Transnational Repression Act, ”H.R. 7433, introduced by Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Chairman Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY).
· The “Strengthening State and Local Efforts to Counter Transnational Repression Act, ”H.R. 7439, introduced by Rep. Magaziner (D-RI).
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