A man carrying multiple firearms, including a loaded weapon, was arrested on Saturday near a Donald Trump campaign rally in California, according to reports from the Digi24.
No Evidence of Assassination Attempt
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stated that he believes his team may have thwarted an attempt to assassinate the former president. However, federal officials have said there is currently no evidence to support this claim.
The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Vem Miller, was stopped at a checkpoint less than a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the rally's entrance in Coachella Valley just before the event began.
Miller was found with a loaded rifle, a handgun, and a high-capacity magazine. After his arrest, Miller was released on $5,000 (approximately €4,700) bail, according to police reports.
No One in Danger
Sheriff Bianco asserted that Miller intended to kill Trump, saying:
"We probably stopped another assassination attempt."
Despite this claim, the Riverside County Sheriff’s office later issued a statement confirming that neither Trump nor rally attendees were in any danger. Two federal officials also told CNN that there was no indication that Miller had been planning to assassinate the former president.
In a joint statement with the FBI and the Department of Justice, the Secret Service also reassured the public, stating that Trump was "never in danger." They acknowledged Miller's arrest but emphasized that the incident had no impact on their security operations.
Reports from local authorities revealed that Miller had been driving a black SUV and was found in possession of a rifle, a loaded weapon, and a high-capacity magazine, all allegedly without the proper permits. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
This is not the first time Trump has been the target of an alleged assassination attempt. In July, he narrowly escaped harm when a bullet grazed his ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Additionally, in September, another man was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump after Secret Service agents discovered him hiding with a rifle near Trump’s golf course in Palm Beach. That suspect has pleaded not guilty.
