A man armed with a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine was apprehended by local law enforcement outside a rally for former President Donald Trump in California on Saturday. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has asserted that the arrest thwarted a potential assassination attempt on the former president, despite the suspect, Vem Miller, being released after posting bail for weapons charges.
Miller, 49, was arrested at a police checkpoint while allegedly attempting to gain entry to the rally using a counterfeit press pass. Upon discovering that his vehicle was unregistered, officers conducted a search and found a collection of fake passports and driver’s licenses in addition to the weapons. Miller was subsequently charged with weapons offenses and released after posting a $5,000 bail.
Sheriff Bianco, in a statement to the Riverside Press-Enterprise, maintained that his department’s actions had potentially saved the life of the former president. However, federal agencies, including the Secret Service and the FBI, have expressed skepticism about the sheriff’s claims.
Sources have indicated to The Post that Miller is a member of a far-right, anti-government group and likely possessed the weapons for personal defense. The Secret Service and the FBI, in a joint statement, said that the incident did not pose a threat to the former president’s safety and that no federal arrest has been made at this time, although the investigation is ongoing.
Miller, after being approached for an interview by the FBI, requested legal representation and dismissed claims that he intended to assassinate the former president. Sheriff Bianco, however, stood by his initial assessment, labeling Miller a “lunatic” and suggesting that those who doubted his claims were out of touch with reality.
Miller has a history of minor legal infractions and is believed to be a member of the sovereign citizens movement, a far-right group that rejects government authority. The FBI has described the group as “anti-government extremists.”
This incident follows a tense summer during which two gunmen were apprehended while allegedly attempting to assassinate the former president. In July, a 20-year-old man opened fire on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania, and two months later, another man was caught with an assault rifle near Trump’s Florida golf club.
The Trump campaign expressed gratitude to local law enforcement for their efforts to secure the rally. “We thank law enforcement for securing the rally site and helping ensure the safety of President Trump,” said Trump communications director Steven Cheung.