A man arrested at a security checkpoint near former President Trump's Coachella rally was found with guns and fake press and VIP credentials, the Riverside County sheriff's office said Sunday. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said at a Sunday afternoon briefing that his deputies "probably prevented" a "third assassination attempt" on the Republican presidential candidate's life. Sheriff's deputies stopped the suspect, identified as Vem Miller, 49, of Las Vegas, Nevada, in a black SUV just before 5pm Saturday local time, per an online statement from the Riverside County sheriff's office.

The suspect "was found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine," according to the statement. The suspect claimed at the outside perimeter that he was a journalist and that he had "VIP status," but sheriff's deputies assigned to Trump's Coachella rally found the driver at the inside perimeter had multiple passports and that the vehicle was unregistered, Bianco said. Evidence from a fake license plate of the unregistered vehicle indicates that Miller is affiliated with the sovereign citizen movement, which the FBI designates as "anti-government extremists," Bianco said. Federal and county officials said the incident did not impact the safety of Trump nor attendees of the event.

"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," according to the the Riverside County sheriff's office statement. Miller was released on $5,000 bail, per the Riverside County Inmate Information System. Bianco said his office was working with the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI and that while they arrested and booked the suspect on firearms charges, "anything further will come from the federal government." The U.S. attorneys office, Secret Service and FBI said in a joint statement they're aware of the Coachella Trump rally arrest, which they said "did not impact protective operations and former President Trump was not in any danger."

highdesert wrote: Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:03 pm Don't know why Trump stopped in Coachella, he has no chance of winning California.

BearPaws wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2024 7:06 am

highdesert wrote: Sun Oct 13, 2024 9:03 pm Don't know why Trump stopped in Coachella, he has no chance of winning California.

He wanted more Californians to be unable to vote after getting heat exhaustion. He's dumb enough that he didn't realize that the people getting sick would be his own supporters.

/snark

But members of the Sovereign Citizen movement have been involved in acts of anti-government violence. In 2010, a father and son team of self-proclaimed Sovereign Citizens shot and killed two police officers during a traffic stop in Arkansas before they were gunned down. While not associated with any particular party due to their eschewing of politics, the Sovereign Citizen movement has nevertheless expanded and attracted new members during the era of former President Donald Trump.

CDFingers wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2024 9:47 am 'm glad to see it, but even his would-be assassins are incompetent.

CDF

featureless wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2024 8:06 pm Out on $5,000 bail indicates not an assassination attempt, just media horseshit.

Eris wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2024 6:11 pm

CDFingers wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2024 9:47 am 'm glad to see it, but even his would-be assassins are incompetent.

CDF

Glad to see what?

Eris wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2024 9:06 pm

featureless wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2024 8:06 pm Out on $5,000 bail indicates not an assassination attempt, just media horseshit.

Media overreaction, maybe, but after two actual assasination attempts it's not horseshit to expect a third.

BKinzey wrote: Wed Oct 16, 2024 9:48 pm I thought there was a "stay" on the high cap law in CA? The law is on the books but you couldn't be charged with it. Maybe something has changed, and not for the better. Heck, in this state maybe they charged him anyway.