Sheriff Claims Third Trump Assassination Attempt Thwarted, While Suspect Tells a Different Story
A man carrying multiple firearms was arrested near a Trump rally in Coachella Valley, California, on Saturday, but there’s controversy over why he had the weapons.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stated, “I truly do believe we prevented another assassination attempt,” according to the New York Post.
However, Vem Miller from Las Vegas, who claims to be a Trump supporter, shared a different perspective. “I always travel around with my firearms in the back of my truck,” he told Fox News, explaining that he's been doing so since receiving death threats. “I’ve literally never even shot a gun in my life,” he added.
According to the Press Enterprise, Miller was taken into custody after approaching a security checkpoint at the rally. Authorities reported he was illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.
Sheriff Bianco said Miller’s vehicle had an unregistered, fake license plate, and he was also found with counterfeit VIP passes, fake passports, and driver’s licenses.
Miller contends that he informed the deputies about the guns in his vehicle voluntarily.
The Sheriff’s Office issued a news release stating that Miller had been charged with possession of a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine.
On Sunday, Bianco reiterated that his team had potentially stopped a third assassination attempt on the former president, referring to Miller as a “lunatic.”
“What his frame of mind was, all we can do is speculate,” Bianco commented, according to the Post. “If you’re asking me right now, I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt.”
Bianco also voiced frustration, saying, “If we are that politically lost, that we have lost sight of common sense and reality... And I’m going to be accused of being dramatic?”
“We have a serious, serious problem in this country, because this is common sense and reason,” Bianco added.
A representative from Trump’s campaign downplayed the event, telling Fox News that they were not treating it as an assassination attempt.
“We thank law enforcement for securing the rally site and helping ensure the safety of President Trump. We are aware of news reports about the arrest and are currently monitoring the situation,” the spokesperson said.
Additionally, the Post noted that the Secret Service does not believe Miller was planning to assassinate Trump, and the FBI is not treating the case as an assassination plot.