US Department of Justice

"Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets," Newsom said in a video statement posted to X. "He’s coming after me because I am considering running for President."

Democratic US Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who brought the lawsuit, called the request to extend the two-week-old deadline "inexcusable" and part of "a pattern of non-compliance."

The charges are based on his role as a Taliban commander in Afghanistan, leading attacks against US serviceman and allies, and taking hostages between 2007 and 2009.

Mohamed Sagha, 22, faces charges for aiding ISIS and planning potential attacks on US synagogues and military sites, according to the DOJ and FBI.

Blanche's nomination sets up a test of Trump's sway over Senate Republicans, who have shown an increasing willingness to resist parts of his agenda after months of largely acceding to his demands.

DOJ officials said the suspects allegedly sent more than $2,000 to fund ISIS weapons targeting US service members.

Trump said he plans to nominate acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Justice Department, making his former personal lawyer the top US law enforcement officer.

The fund emerged from a legal settlement between Trump and the Justice Department to resolve a lawsuit in which the president sued the Internal Revenue Service for $10 ‌billion.

Masih Alinejad, the target of the plot, fled Iran following the contentious 2009 presidential election and ensuing protest movement. She became a US citizen in 2019. 

Michele Spagnuolo, a 36-year-old Italian citizen, allegedly used insider information to bet on long-shot candidates like indie pop musician D4vd.