Riverside County Sheriff’s Trump Assassination Allegations ‘a Lie,’ Las Vegas Man Says
Vem Miller, the Las Vegas man accused of being a possible assassin intent on killing former president Donald Trump at a campaign rally near Coachella Valley, said that, despite a lack of serious criminal charges against him, the allegations have had significant impacts on him and his family.
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies arrested Miller, 49, outside an Oct. 12 rally at Calhoun Ranch mere weeks before the Nov. 5 election. The day after Miller’s arrest, Sheriff Chad Bianco said his deputies had “probably stopped another assassination attempt” when they prevented Miller from entering a parking lot outside the rally venue.
From the beginning, Miller – who had a shotgun and pistol in his vehicle at the time of his arrest – said he was no assassin, but a Trump loyalist unfairly maligned by Bianco.
“Everything was a lie, everything was a lie,” Miller said. “My name was correct, my birthdate was correct. Everything else was a lie.”
Miller sued Bianco and Riverside County three days after his arrest.
Riverside police engaged in deliberate and wrongful conduct and compromised police protocol violating Miller’s constitutional rights for the purpose of promoting and engaging in a meritless and gratuitous sensational story, the 23-page suit filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada reads in part. He’s represented by Las Vegas attorney Sigal Chattah, Nevada’s representative on the Republican National Committee.
The criminal charges against the man Bianco characterized as a would-be assassin have been minor.
Miller was released on Oct. 12 without needing to post bail. He currently faces no federal charges connected with the campaign rally. On Jan. 2, Miller pleaded not guilty at Larson Justice Center in Indio to one misdemeanor count of carrying a loaded firearm into a public place and one count of failing to have a current vehicle registration.
According to a joint statement released by the Secret Service, FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, as well as a statement issued later by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Trump had not been in danger at the Coachella Valley rally.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment for this story, saying the department does not comment on pending litigation.
Vem Miller’s Experience
Miller, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley, worked in film and video. A self-described “JFK Democrat,” he contributed to Bernie Sanders’ political campaign in 2016. By the 2020 presidential election campaign, he was supporting Republicans, including various Trump and GOP candidate campaign committees, having been turned against Democrats by what he said was broadcast news selectively editing footage of Trump.
Now a registered Republican, Miller has served as a caucus captain for Trump. He previously ran for Nevada State Assembly in 2022, losing in the primary. According to Miller, he’s attended about two dozen Trump events.
Consequences of the Allegations
Miller’s arrest and the subsequent headlines have hurt his career. His IMDB page listing his show-business credits now includes a news article about his arrest.
“You Google your name, and your 30 years of work, imagine that’s buried for 30 pages” behind stories about his arrest, Miller said. “It’s been a complete character assassination.”
A security officer attempted to throw him out of Turning Point’s AmericaFest in December, based on a cursory search of Miller’s name online, he said.
“I have to explain to people constantly that I’m not this person,” Miller said.
He’s also received death threats and harassment on social media.
Conclusion
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment on the allegations made by Vem Miller, who claims that the allegations are false and have caused significant harm to his reputation and career. Miller has filed a lawsuit against the department and is awaiting trial on minor criminal charges. The incident has sparked controversy and debate, with some questioning the motives behind the allegations and others supporting the sheriff’s department’s actions.
FAQs
* What are the allegations against Vem Miller?
+ Vem Miller, a 49-year-old Las Vegas man, was accused of being a possible assassin intent on killing former president Donald Trump at a campaign rally near Coachella Valley.
* What are the consequences of the allegations?
+ The allegations have hurt Miller’s career, with his IMDB page listing his show-business credits now including a news article about his arrest. He has also received death threats and harassment on social media.
* What is Miller’s response to the allegations?
+ Miller claims that the allegations are false and have been intentionally spread by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to promote himself and his political career. He has filed a lawsuit against Bianco and the department, alleging that they compromised his constitutional rights and engaged in a “meritless and gratuitous sensational story.”