Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@vemmiller / CAITLIN O'HARA/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Gun Crime, California, Crime
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Gun Crime, California, Crime
A man arrested after being found 'illegally' possessing several firearms while driving near a Donald Trump rally has spoken out on the 'bulls**t' accusations.
On Saturday (October 12), former President of the US Donald Trump held a rally in Coachella Valley, California.
A vehicle at a checkpoint near the rally raised suspicions among deputies assigned to the rally and the driver was later found to be 'illegally in possession' of multiple weapons.
Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a statement deputies assigned to the rally made contact with 'the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive', The Telegraph reporting the vehicle had a fake license plate and the driver fake VIP passes.
The sheriff's department continued: "The male driver, identified as Vem Miller, a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas, was found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine.
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"Miller was taken into custody without incident and later booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center for possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine."
And while the department noted the incident 'did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event', that's not stopped people questioning whether the suspect's intentions were more sinister, particularly with two assassination attempts on Trump's life already having taken place this year.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told a local news outlet authorities 'probably stopped another assassination attempt,' however, both the FBI and Trump's campaign team said an assassination attempt had not taken place.
And now Miller has spoken out himself.
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According to Miller's LinkedIn, he is 'an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker and content producer' who runs a group called The America Happens Network which rallies against the mainstream media.
Miller told Southern California News Group he actually supports Trump and was 'shocked' to find himself accused of trying to hurt the former president.
The 49-year-old claims when he reached the checkpoint - wearing a Trump t-shirt and hat - he told a deputy he was lawfully carrying firearms and says he received a 'special entry pass' to the rally from the head of Clark County’s Republican Party.
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He resolved: "These accusations are complete bulls**t. I’m an artist, I’m the last person that would cause any violence and harm to anybody."
Miller was released on $5,000 bail on Saturday. He is set to appear at the Indio Larson Justice Center on January 2, 2025.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy Coronado at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 836–1600.
UNILAD has contacted Riverside Sheriff for comment.