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(Coachella, CA) – A man was arrested outside a Donald Trump rally in Coachella Valley, California, on Saturday, and the local sheriff claims a potential assassination attempt was thwarted. Vem Miller was detained at a police checkpoint when officers found his car unregistered. A search revealed fake passports, driver’s licenses, a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said, “I truly do believe we prevented another assassination attempt.”
Despite these claims, federal agencies like the Secret Service and FBI are not investigating the incident as an assassination plot. Sources told reporters that Miller, a member of a far-right anti-government group, likely had the weapons for personal defense.
Miller posted $5,000 bail and denied any intent to harm Trump. Sheriff Bianco, however, stood by his assertion that his deputies may have prevented a major threat. The FBI describes Miller’s group, the sovereign citizens movement, as anti-government extremists.
The incident comes after a tense summer where two separate gunmen were stopped before attempting to harm Trump during rallies.
