The suspect arrested with two loaded weapons exterior a Trump rally in Coachella over the weekend mentioned he deliberate to sue Riverside County after the sheriff claimed his deputies stopped the person from trying to assassinate the previous president.
Vem Miller, 49, of Los Angeles informed The Occasions in a cellphone interview Monday that he introduced his two weapons to the rally for self-protection, saying he has obtained dying threats in response to work he has performed for his media firm, the America Occurs Community. He mentioned that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco made false claims about him at a information convention over the weekend.
“Everything they said about me is untrue, provably so,” Miller informed The Occasions. “Unfortunately, he appears to have committed career suicide.”
Miller added that he had attorneys making ready a “massive lawsuit” towards the county. “As of right this second, I could prove everything they said is untrue. It’s just going to be bad. … That sheriff is going to lose his job.”
Bianco informed reporters Sunday that his deputies “probably stopped another assassination attempt.”
However authorities investigating the armed man arrested Saturday exterior a Trump rally in Coachella have discovered no proof thus far that he was planning to attempt to kill Trump.
Federal officers proceed to analyze, however Miller stays free awaiting additional courtroom proceedings. Sources say the main target thus far stays on the gun possession cost that led to his arrest on Saturday.
Miller informed The Occasions he merely obtained a ticket.
Miller, an L.A. native, was booked on the John J. Benoit Detention Middle in Indio on suspicion of possessing loaded firearms, Riverside County sheriff’s officers mentioned. He has since been launched on bail pending a courtroom look.
Deputies discovered the weapons after looking out Miller’s black SUV at a checkpoint at 52nd Avenue and Celebration Drive in Coachella about 5 p.m. Saturday, authorities mentioned.
At a information convention Sunday, Bianco mentioned his deputies had doubtless thwarted an assassination try, though he acknowledged “there is absolutely no way any of us are going to truly know what’s in [the suspect’s] head.”
However sources who spoke to The Occasions on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk publicly mentioned that they had uncovered no proof exhibiting Miller meant to hurt the previous president. They harassed that the investigation remained ongoing and extra details may are available in.
Vem Miller, 49, informed The Occasions in a cellphone interview Monday that he introduced his two weapons to the Trump rally for self-protection, saying he has obtained dying threats.
(Vem Miller)
Requested whether or not he was speculating by branding Miller a would-be murderer, Bianco mentioned it was “common sense” to suspect that somebody carrying weapons and pretend identification to a political rally meant to harm individuals. However the sheriff supplied no proof of an assassination plot.
Miller informed The Occasions he supported Trump and had no intentions to hurt him.
“In observance of my 1st Amendment rights, I carry firearms in my truck,” he mentioned.
Miller informed The Occasions that he identifies largely as a libertarian, although he supported former Democratic President Obama previously. He opposed Republican George W. Bush and plenty of of his insurance policies, together with the Patriot Act and the Iraq warfare. Round 2015, Miller mentioned, he turned disillusioned with Obama and started supporting Trump.
“I liked that he was taking on a lot of these consistent powers that drive us into unnecessary wars and unnecessary debt,” he mentioned.
Miller mentioned he was in Coachella to cowl the rally as a journalist.
The Secret Service launched a press release Sunday afternoon stating the previous president was not in peril.
“The U.S. Secret Service assesses that the incident did not impact protective operations and former President Trump was not in any danger. While no federal arrest has been made at this time, the investigation is ongoing,” the assertion mentioned. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, and FBI extend their gratitude to the deputies and local partners who helped ensure the safety of last night’s events.”
In line with Bianco, Miller had pushed his SUV by an outer perimeter maintained by sheriff’s deputies earlier than he was questioned at a checkpoint nearer to the rally entrance. Miller claimed to have credentials to attend the rally each as a journalist and VIP visitor however couldn’t produce any paperwork.
The deputy questioning Miller seen what Bianco referred to as “many irregularities” along with his SUV: The license plate was phony, the car was unregistered and the inside was “in disarray,” the sheriff mentioned.
A search of the SUV turned up pretend passports and driver’s licenses with completely different names in addition to weapons and ammunition, Bianco mentioned.
Bianco mentioned he was figuring out the suspect as Miller “with an asterisk” as a result of he possessed identification with a number of names. The suspect acknowledged his identify was Vem Miller, in line with the sheriff.
The selfmade license plate was “indicative of individuals claiming to be sovereign citizens,” Bianco mentioned, referring to an ideology whose followers don’t contemplate authorities authorities to be respectable. Bianco referred to as it irrelevant that almost all sovereign residents subscribe to far-right beliefs.
Miller’s social media additionally appeared to indicate his assist for Trump.
“I am willing to fight non stop with everything I have for the next 4 years to help this country and this man,” he wrote on Instagram after the Pennsylvania assassination try at a Trump rally. Together with the remark he posted a photograph of Trump elevating his fist with blood on his ear.
Miller additionally posted images with varied Republican politicians and celebrities, together with Donald Trump Jr. and Stephen Miller, a Trump advisor.
Miller mentioned on his web site that he went to UCLA, the place he studied English and artistic writing whereas additionally taking movie courses.
“I create content for TV, Film, Documentaries, Music Videos, Podcasts and other forms of Media Production. I am actively involved in politics and work with candidates across all platforms to support those who are wanting to make positive change,” he wrote on his website.
Miller labored in Hollywood for years, directing music movies for John Mayer, Trey Songz and different artists. He’s credited as a director of the video for the DMX rap traditional “Where the Hood At?”
A pal who labored with Miller for the advocacy group America Occurs additionally claimed Miller had no intent to kill the previous president.
“There isn’t a universe his intention was to kill Trump, he’s worked too hard in this movement to expose the Deep State and all the people against him,” Mindy Robinson wrote on X.
“As a pro-2A advocate, ask me if I give a s— about a good guy with a gun in an unsafe s—hole like California. It doesn’t even make sense why his passes would be fake either when we’re both usually invited as media to these things.”
In an odd federal courtroom submitting towards his ex-wife, Miller claimed that she kidnapped his youngsters and took them to the UK.
Miller, who was working in Canada on the time, claimed {that a} Canadian choose and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau labored to forestall Miller from getting his youngsters again.
“PM Trudeau was also involved in my case, and helped prevent any form of justice within the Canadian courts,” Miller wrote.
