A Las Vegas Man Was Arrested with Guns and Fake IDs near Former President Donald Trump’s Campaign Rally in Coachella Valley
A Las Vegas man, Vem Miller, was arrested with guns and fake IDs just a quarter mile from former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Coachella Valley, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said on Sunday.
But while the sheriff called the arrest a thwarted assassination attempt, Miller told a reporter he is a Trump supporter who bought the guns for his own safety and alerted police at a checkpoint that they were in the trunk of his car.
So, who is Vem Miller?
Miller, 49, is a registered Republican who holds a master’s degree from UCLA, and who ran for state assembly in Nevada in 2022. He lost in the primary. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal at the time that he was running because “this country has been taken over by tyranny.” He said he supported more electric car manufacturing in Nevada and solar energy but would also want to focus on election security issues if he had been elected to office, including strengthening voter ID laws and implementing paper ballots again.
Miller also runs The America Happens Network, whose motto is “Rage against the mainstream media.” On his LinkedIn, he wrote, “For 20 years +, I have been working in the media as an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and a content producer… I have seen our rights be taken, while the power of big government grows I have seen small businesses and the middle class be squashed. I have seen illegal mandates and politicians acting like dictators. I have also seen how the power of the money flows through politics and a political class that no longer works for We The People.”
Who is Vem Miller?
On his LinkedIn, he wrote, “For 20 years +, I have been working in the media as an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and a content producer… I have seen our rights be taken, while the power of big government grows I have seen small businesses and the middle class be squashed. I have seen illegal mandates and politicians acting like dictators. I have also seen how the power of the money flows through politics and a political class that no longer works for We The People.
Why was Miller at the Coachella Trump rally?
Miller said he received a special invitation to the Coachella Valley rally from the head of Clark County’s Republican Party. So far, no one at the Clark County Republican Office has responded to phone calls seeking comment.
What happened before the rally that led to Miller’s arrest?
Sheriff’s deputies assigned to Trump’s rally said a driver, identified as Miller, rolled up in a black SUV to a checkpoint at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive around 5 pm on Saturday. There he was found to be in illegal possession of a shotgun, loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine, Bianco said. He added that Miller’s car had a fake license plate and was unregistered. Deputies also found multiple phone passports and driver’s licenses, Bianco said.
Miller tells the story differently. In an exclusive interview with this news organization, he said he showed up to the rally dressing a Trump shirt and hat and reached a checkpoint prior to entering the event parking lot and told a deputy he was lawfully carrying firearms in his trunk – as a courtesy. He was asked to pull over and step out of the car before he was handcuffed and had his vehicle “ransacked,” after a deputy said he wanted to retrieve the gun’s serial numbers to confirm they were legally purchased.
Conclusions
The incident has raised concerns about threats against former President Trump and the safety measures in place for high-profile events. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how Miller’s actions will be charged.
FAQs
Q: Who is Vem Miller?
A: Vem Miller is a 49-year-old Las Vegas man who was arrested with guns and fake IDs near former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Coachella Valley.
Q: What were the charges against Vem Miller?
A: Miller was booked for possessing a loaded firearm and high-capacity magazine, authorities said.
Q: What is The America Happens Network?
A: The America Happens Network is a media outlet run by Vem Miller, who claims to be an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and content producer.
Q: Why was Miller arrested?
A: Sheriff Chad Bianco called the arrest a thwarted assassination attempt, while Miller claimed he was just trying to exercise his Second Amendment rights and notify police about the guns in his trunk.
