Two Arrested in Plot to Kill Journalist

The U.S. Department of Justice has revealed a thwarted assassination plot that involved two men, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathon Loadholt, who were allegedly hired by Iranian agent Farhad Shakeri to kill journalist Masih Alinejad while she was scheduled to speak at Fairfield University. Alinejad, a prominent critic of the Iranian regime, expressed her shock upon learning of the plot, which was linked to a broader scheme to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. Shakeri, who is described as an asset to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, promised the two men $100,000 for the murder. Rivera and Loadholt stalked Alinejad for months, reflecting the ongoing threats faced by critics of the Iranian government. The Justice Department has charged all three individuals with conspiracy and murder-for-hire. This incident underscores the severe risks that dissidents like Alinejad encounter from Iranian operatives abroad.