The U.S. Department of Justice has unveiled a shocking plot orchestrated by the Iranian regime to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump. The Justice Department announced on Saturday that Farhad Shakeri, an Iranian asset, has been charged with leading a network designed to carry out assassination plots against high-profile individuals, including President-elect Trump. Two alleged accomplices, Eric Loadholt and James Rivera, were also arrested for their alleged roles in executing these attacks under Shakeri’s direction.
According to court filings, Shakeri coordinated a network within the U.S. to track and eliminate Iranian dissidents and U.S. nationals. This plot is believed to be part of a larger retaliation campaign by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) in response to the death of Qasem Soleimani, an IRGC-Qods Force commander, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in January 2020.
Court records reveal that on October 7, 2024, Shakeri received specific instructions from the IRGC to develop a plan targeting President-elect Trump. While Shakeri claimed to law enforcement officials that he did not intend to carry out the plan within the IRGC’s specified timeframe, the seriousness of the plot cannot be understated.
Shakeri, who resided in the U.S. before being deported in 2008, allegedly used contacts from his time in prison to assemble a team of operatives for the IRGC. Investigations indicate that Shakeri directed Loadholt and Rivera to conduct surveillance on a U.S.-based critic of Iran, referred to as ‘Victim-1’. The team tracked ‘Victim-1’s movements, receiving detailed instructions from Shakeri on when and where to locate her.
The DOJ alleges that Shakeri promised Loadholt and Rivera $100,000 to assassinate ‘Victim-1’. Shakeri provided specific instructions, emphasizing a strategic approach, for Loadholt and Rivera to await ‘Victim-1’ outside her residence or identify other vulnerable locations where the attack could occur.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to national security, stating, “We will not stand for the Iranian regime’s attempts to endanger the American people.” Garland’s statement underscores the DOJ’s resolute determination to counter foreign-led assassination plots within the U.S.
FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that the IRGC, designated as a terrorist organization, collaborated with criminal networks to orchestrate attacks on U.S. soil. Wray stated, “Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, their deadly schemes were disrupted.” This statement reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting Americans from adversaries, including Iran.
The FBI’s New York Field Office is leading the investigation with support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the DEA. The DOJ’s actions highlight the urgent need to counter foreign threats posed by the IRGC’s global operations targeting U.S. citizens and officials. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by foreign actors seeking to undermine national security and inflict harm on American citizens.
