Armed suspect denies assassination plot near Trump rally

The sheriff's office alleges Miller posed a threat to Trump, but he rejects all claims, stating he meant no harm.
News Desk | October 14, 2024

Vem Miller, a 49-year-old man arrested with firearms near a rally for former President Donald Trump in California, has denied allegations that he intended to harm the ex-president, calling the accusations "complete nonsense."

Vem Miller was detained by Riverside County deputies at a checkpoint near the Coachella Valley rally on Saturday, where authorities discovered a shotgun, a handgun, and ammunition in his vehicle.

According to Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the arrest may have prevented a third assassination attempt on Trump.

However, in speaking to the Southern California News Group, Miller rejected these claims, saying, "These accusations are complete bullsh-t."

He described himself as a Trump supporter and said he had no violent intentions.

Vem Miller stated that the weapons, purchased legally in 2022, were for personal protection and that he had voluntarily informed deputies about the firearms in his trunk.

He claimed that his vehicle was then “ransacked” as law enforcement verified the legality of the purchases.

Vem Miller also denied flashing a fake press pass, explaining that he presented a “special entry pass” to the event instead.

 

The local sheriff's office alleged that Miller was part of a far-right anti-government group, which he strongly denied.

Sheriff Bianco suggested Miller had multiple fake passports, driver’s licenses, and was driving an unregistered vehicle with a fake license plate.

While federal law enforcement, including the FBI and Secret Service, are still investigating the case, initial reports from the agencies suggest that Vem Miller was unlikely to have been planning to assassinate Trump.

In a joint statement, the Secret Service clarified that the former president was not in danger and that the incident did not impact protective operations.

Despite this, Sheriff Bianco maintained that common sense and reason indicated a threat.

"If you’re asking me right now, I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt," Bianco said, pointing to the cache of weapons and documents Miller allegedly had at the checkpoint.

Vem Miller, who leads an organisation critical of the mainstream media, remains under investigation and could face further charges.

However, he continues to assert that he is the last person who would engage in violence, emphasising his support for Donald Trump and shock at the accusations levied against him.

Donald Trump has previously been the target of two assassination attempts in recent months, one in July during a rally in Pennsylvania, and another in September when a man was found with a gun near the perimeter of Trump’s golf course in Florida.

Who is Vem Miller?

Vem Miller is a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas and a registered Republican.

He previously ran for the Nevada State Assembly in 2022 but was unsuccessful in the primary election.

A LinkedIn profile belonging to Vem Miller, a resident of Las Vegas, identifies him as “an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and content producer.” He has contributed to various projects for prominent networks such as Netflix and VICE Media.

 

During his campaign, Vem Miller voiced concerns about what he described as "tyranny" in the United States, which motivated his decision to enter politics.

He raised issues related to voter fraud and was involved in a lawsuit alleging that he and others were denied access to observe the vote-counting process.

In addition to his political activism, Vem Miller has expressed support for solar energy initiatives and advocated for increased electric vehicle manufacturing in Nevada.

Vem Miller holds a Master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and describes himself on LinkedIn as an “investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and content producer.”

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