An armed individual arrested on weapons charges while heading to Donald Trump’s rally in California has vehemently denied claims made by local law enforcement that he intended to harm the former president. Vem Miller, 49, dismissed the sheriff’s assertion as “bulls–t.” expressing his disbelief over the allegations on Sunday.
Miller, who identified himself as a Trump supporter, was apprehended on Saturday afternoon at a checkpoint near the Coachella Valley rally, where authorities discovered two firearms and ammunition in his vehicle.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco expressed his strong belief that Miller’s arrest may have thwarted a potential assassination attempt against the Republican presidential candidate.
The man arrested for allegedly having two unregistered, loaded guns near a Trump event this weekend says:
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 14, 2024
1) He's a Trump supporter
2) He's been helping with the re-elect
3) He was invited to the rally
He's been released from custody, facing misdemeanors
====> pic.twitter.com/LUDHbnTYEG
Who is Vem Miller? Vem Miller Wiki
Vem Miller, a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas, previously ran for state office in 2022. He holds a master’s degree from UCLA and identifies himself as a member of the sovereign citizen movement.
On social media, Miller expresses his support for Donald Trump and asserts that he was attending the rally with a special pass granted by the Republican Party. Local news sources indicate that Vem Miller is a registered Republican. He previously ran for the Nevada State Assembly District 13 in 2022 as a Republican candidate but was unsuccessful in the primary election.
Armed Suspect Arrested Near Trump Rally: Claims Misunderstanding
In an interview with the Southern California News Group, Miller expressed his shock regarding the allegations. “These claims are absolute nonsense,” he stated. “I’m an artist; I would never resort to violence or cause harm to anyone.”
was invited to the rally by the chair of the Clark County GOP. He was reportedly wearing a Trump-branded shirt and hat when he encountered law enforcement at the checkpoint. According to Miller, the firearms in question—a shotgun and a loaded handgun—were purchased in 2022 for his safety.
UPDATE: Third Suspected Trump Assassination Attempt
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) October 14, 2024
Details and my thoughts below…
🔴 VEM MILLER SPEAKS
You can listen to it yourself and judge for yourself…
One part that didn’t sit particularly well with me is his criticism of the Police saying “he’s one of those… pic.twitter.com/ewBNBXIet2
He explained to deputies that he was carrying the weapons in his trunk “as a courtesy” before being stopped and instructed to exit the vehicle. He alleged that his car was then “ransacked” after a deputy expressed a desire to verify the legality of the gun purchases.
Miller, a registered Republican who ran for office in Nevada in 2022 but did not succeed, also refuted claims that he displayed a fake press pass at the checkpoint, asserting instead that he presented a “special entry pass,” as reported by the local outlet.
Here’s Vem Miller, the guy that tried to assassinate Trump at Coachella yesterday. pic.twitter.com/VygEMQxHX2
— 🌊 R Saddler (@Politics_PR) October 14, 2024
Weapons Charges and Allegations of Assassination Attempts
The Las Vegas resident reported that he was not informed of the reasons behind his arrest and only after several hours in custody was he permitted to contact a lawyer. He mentioned that he had to recount the incident while in the presence of FBI and Secret Service agents, who allegedly expressed interest in interviewing him.
Miller claimed that deputies later informed him that the planned meeting with federal agents was canceled, adding to the confusion surrounding his detention. He runs an organization critical of mainstream media, further complicating the narrative of his encounter with law enforcement.
Miller faces weapons charges for the illegal possession of firearms and has been released on a $5,000 bail. During his interview with a local outlet, he admitted he was unaware of the differences in gun laws between California and his home state of Nevada.
While he may face further charges from federal authorities, sources indicated that the Secret Service believes it is improbable that Miller intended to assassinate the former president. Additionally, the FBI is not pursuing the case as an assassination attempt.
Sheriff’s Controversial Statements and Miller’s Defense
The Secret Service affirmed that there was no risk to Trump during the rally, stating, “The US Secret Service assesses that the incident did not impact protective operations and former President Trump was not in any danger.” The agency, alongside the FBI, noted that while no federal arrests have been made yet, the investigation remains ongoing.
However, local Sheriff Chad Bianco argued that logic suggests Miller had the former president in his sights. “If you’re asking me right now, I would say that I probably had deputies who thwarted a third assassination attempt,” he asserted, mentioning that Miller possessed a collection of fake passports and driver’s licenses at the checkpoint.
Miller also reportedly had a fake license plate and was driving an unregistered vehicle. Sheriff Bianco mentioned that the suspect claimed to be a journalist with VIP access to the Trump rally, but he failed to present the necessary documentation.
Bianco expressed concern over the situation, stating, “If we are so politically confused that we can’t recognize the seriousness of someone showing up with loaded firearms and all this other paraphernalia, then we have a major issue in this country. This isn’t about being dramatic; it’s about basic common sense and reason.” He made these comments in response to a question from a reporter regarding the nature of his earlier statements.
The Riverside sheriff also alleged that Miller is affiliated with the so-called sovereign citizens movement, a group that rejects government authority and laws. However, Miller vehemently denied this accusation, as reported by the Southern California News Group.
Previous Assassination Attempts on Trump
This incident comes on the heels of two confirmed assassination attempts against Trump in just three months. In July, during a rally in Pennsylvania, a bullet fired by gunman Thomas Crooks grazed the former president’s ear. Then, in September, Ryan Routh was accused of attempting to kill Trump while lurking along the perimeter of Trump’s golf course in Florida, armed and ready, until the Secret Service intervened.
