A commander of an Iraqi-based terrorist organization has been indicted on eight counts for orchestrating a sprawling campaign of violence across three continents, with allegations that he discussed targeting Ivanka Trump in Florida as part of his attack strategy.
Mohammad Al-Saadi was extradited to New York this month to face trial on charges stemming from nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The indictment unsealed Thursday accuses him of ordering strikes on U.S. bank branches, plotting to attack a New York City synagogue, and coordinating assaults on Jewish communities in multiple European cities.
According to three sources familiar with the investigation, Al-Saadi allegedly expressed interest in targeting Trump, the former president's oldest daughter and a White House senior adviser during Trump's first term. She has not held a role in his current administration. The alleged plan included a potential strike against her in Florida, though the Justice Department did not include these threats in its public charging documents or formal indictment announcement.
Al-Saadi is a commander of Kata'ib Hizballah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization based in Iraq. Court documents identify the group as having ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Washington has also designated as a terrorist entity.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the indictment Thursday, stating that Al-Saadi "has been directly involved in terrorist operations and military decisions to attack U.S. and Israeli interests across the world." The Justice Department alleges his involvement with both terrorist organizations dates to at least 2017, and that he has worked closely with senior leadership in both groups to coordinate retaliatory strikes against American citizens and officials following U.S. military operations that killed terrorist commanders.
The White House and Secret Service did not immediately comment on the alleged threats against Trump. The FBI and Justice Department declined to provide additional statement beyond the formal indictment announcement.
Trump has not been involved in her father's second term as president. She is married to Jared Kushner, who served as a senior adviser during the first Trump administration.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The fact that this alleged targeting of a Trump family member didn't make it into the formal charging document is a notable detail that speaks to how these cases are compartmentalized at the Justice Department."
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