• Vem Miller was arrested near a Trump rally in California, found with loaded firearms and multiple passports.
• Sheriff Chad Bianco believes this could have been another assassination attempt on Trump.
• Miller, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, was initially allowed through an outer perimeter checkpoint posing as a journalist.
• Despite the incident, the rally proceeded without disruption, and Miller is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025.

In a shocking turn of events, a man was arrested near a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in California on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The man, identified as 49-year-old Las Vegas resident Vem Miller, was found in possession of loaded firearms, multiple passports, and a fake license plate. The arrest was made by Riverside County Sheriff's deputies around 5 p.m. local time, before Trump had taken the stage.

Sheriff Chad Bianco, in a news conference on Sunday afternoon, stated, What we do know is he showed up with multiple passports with different names, an unregistered vehicle with a fake license plate and loaded firearms. He further added, I truly do believe that we prevented another assassination attempt. However, he acknowledged that this was speculation.

Miller was stopped in a black SUV by sheriff's deputies and taken into custody without incident. Jail records show that he was released on $5,000 bail on Saturday after being charged with possession of a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine, both misdemeanors.

The Incident and Its Aftermath

The incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event, according to the sheriff's office. The U.S. Attorney's Los Angeles office, in a statement on its website on Sunday, also said Trump was not in danger, citing the U.S. Secret Service. The statement added that while no federal arrest had been made, an investigation was ongoing.

This incident comes in the wake of two previous assassination attempts on Trump. In July, a gunman's bullet grazed his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. In September, another man was charged with trying to assassinate Trump after Secret Service agents discovered him hiding with a rifle near Trump's Palm Beach golf course. He pleaded not guilty. These attempts raised questions about Secret Service security planning and response.

Miller, who identifies as a so-called sovereign citizen, a group of individuals who do not believe they are subject to government laws unless they consent to them, was initially allowed through an outer perimeter checkpoint because he identified himself as a journalist. However, he was stopped at a more stringent inner perimeter checkpoint - closer to the rally - where officers inspected his black SUV and found that it was fitted with a homemade license plate.

Who is Vem Miller?

Miller holds a Master's Degree from UCLA and ran for the Nevada State Assembly in 2022. He describes himself on his LinkedIn page as "an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and content producer," with experience working on shows for major networks like Netflix and VICE Media. He has also directed music videos for musicians like Trey Songz and DMX as part of the popular combo Vem & Tony, according to his IMDB biography.

The rally took place in the Coachella Valley, an area known for its annual music and arts festival. Despite the incident, the rally proceeded without disruption. Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest. According to online records, Miller is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025.

This incident is reminiscent of historical events where public figures have been targeted. The most notable example is the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, which led to a significant increase in security measures for public figures. The recent attempts on Trump's life highlight the ongoing risks faced by public figures and the importance of stringent security measures.