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From the Daily Caller News Foundation

By Hailey Gomez

While Bianco said Riverside officials “likely” prevented a third assassination attempt, the Secret Service communications chief released a joint statement with the FBI noting that the investigation was ongoing but that the former president was “in no danger.” .

Authorities arrested a Las Vegas resident Saturday at a checkpoint for former President Donald Trump’s rally in Coachella, California, for alleged possession of multiple illegal firearms, according to a news release.

Since the first assassination attempt against Trump on July 13 and the arrest of a second would-be assassin on September 15, the former president’s safety has been a top concern for lawmakers and the campaign. The Riverside County Sheriff issued a statement announcing the arrest of 49-year-old Vem Miller, who was found to be “illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun and a high capacity magazine.”

Officials said Miller was arrested at a checkpoint at Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive by officers assigned to the rally at 4:59 p.m. Miller, who was driving a black SUV, was charged with “having a loaded firearm” and “having a large capacity magazine,” according to the news release.

“This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or those attending the event,” officials added.

It was confirmed that Miller was released on $5,000 bail the same day and is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department inmate database.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco held a news conference Sunday afternoon in which he said Miller approached the outskirts first and “gave every indication that he belonged there, that he was an attendee who came in as a VIP.” the press corps was allowed to enter.” However, as Miller continued, officers discovered that the 49-year-old was driving an unregistered vehicle with a homemade license plate “indicating a group of citizens who claim to be sovereign citizens,” as well as multiple passports and driver’s licenses.

“The interior of the vehicle was in disarray. “The vehicle appeared to have a fake license plate, which led to further investigation,” Bianco said. “During this investigation, the deputy located multiple passports with multiple names and multiple driver’s licenses[s] with different names.”

While Bianco said Riverside officials “likely prevented a third assassination attempt,” the Secret Service communications chief released a joint statement with the FBI noting that the investigation was ongoing but that the former president was “in no danger.” be.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI are aware of Saturday’s arrest by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. “The U.S. Secret Service believes the incident had no impact on protective measures and that there was no threat to former President Donald Trump,” the statement said.

“Although there has been no federal arrest at this time, the investigation remains ongoing. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI thank the deputies and local partners who helped ensure the safety of last night’s events,” the statement concluded.

In mid-September, Florida officials arrested 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh after a Secret Service agent spotted him in the bushes at Trump International Golf Course West Palm Beach while the former president was playing on the course. After firing shots at Routh, the 58-year-old fled, leaving behind an “AK-47 rifle with a scope,” two backpacks, a GoPro and ceramic body armor plates, officials confirmed.

Routh was formally charged by federal prosecutors on September 24 with attempting to murder a major political candidate, knowingly possessing a firearm and ammunition despite a prior conviction, and possessing a firearm “with its serial numbers removed by the importer and manufacturer, defaced.” made and altered, according to court documents he violently assaulted and disrupted a Secret Service special agent.

Routh’s arrest came after the July 13 assassination attempt against the former president by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired several shots at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attack killed former volunteer fire department chief Corey Comperatore, injured two supporters and also injured Trump’s ear.

After his release, Miller reportedly denied the allegations and told the Southern California News Group how “shocked” he was about the arrest, noting that he was a supporter of the former president, according to Fox News. Miller also claims that he was never initially told the reason for his arrest and was allegedly unable to call a lawyer until eight hours after his arrest, the outlet reported.

“These allegations are complete nonsense,” Miller said, according to Fox News. “I am an artist, I am the last person who would cause violence and harm to anyone.”

Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung confirmed Sunday that the team is “monitoring the situation and gathering more information” and thanked law enforcement for their commitment.

“We thank law enforcement for securing the rally site and helping to ensure the safety of President Trump. “We are aware of news reports of the arrest and are currently monitoring the situation and gathering further information,” Cheung wrote.