Would-be murderer or Trump-supporting ‘sovereign citizen’? What we find out about suspect Vem Miller | EUROtoday

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Police arrested a person they mentioned was armed with a number of weapons and inconsistent identification paperwork simply exterior a Donald Trump rally on Saturday in Coachella Valley, California, in what officers are describing as a thwarted third assassination try towards the previous president.

However, the suspect – described as a “sovereign citizen” – is believed to be a Trump fan and instructed a information outlet he didn’t imply the Republican candidate any hurt.

Here’s the whole lot we find out about suspect Vem Miller, 49, who has denied wrongdoing.

How was he arrested?

Deputies stopped suspect Vem Miller in a black SUV round 5pm on Saturday about half a mile from the rally, after he allegedly managed to make it by means of an preliminary safety checkpoint by claiming VIP and media credentials.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco mentioned at a press convention on Sunday that at a second cease, a deputy seen that Miller’s SUV was in “disarray” with an “obviously fake” license plate, prompting deputies to research additional.

Police then discovered that Miller allegedly had a number of driver’s licenses and passports with completely different names and possessed a loaded handgun and shotgun, each unregistered, in addition to a high-capacity ammunition journal. Sheriff Bianco mentioned the markings on the license plate indicated Miller was a part of “a group of individuals that claim to be ‘sovereign citizens,’” a right-wing motion that doesn’t imagine within the legitimacy of the federal government.

The Independent has contacted Miller for remark.

What costs is he going through?

“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,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned within the launch.

Miller has denied he was close to the rally to assault Trump.

The 49-year-old instructed Southern California News Group he was “shocked” to listen to the arrest being described as an assassination plot, telling the outlet he’s a supporter of the previous president.

“These accusations are complete bull****,” Miller mentioned. “I’m an artist, I’m the last person that would cause any violence and harm to anybody.”

Sources near the Trump marketing campaign instructed Fox News there had been no assassination try on the Coachella rally.

Miller was launched Saturday on bail and is scheduled to look on the Indio Larson Justice Center in early January, in keeping with the native Press Enterprise newspaper.

The Riverside Sheriff’s Office mentioned Sunday its investigation of Miller is probably going close to its finish, and that any future costs would seemingly come from federal officers.

The Independent has contacted the FBI’s Las Vegas workplace for remark.

Who is Vem Miller?

Miller was described in a police press launch as a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas.

A LinkedIn web page belonging to a Las Vegas man named Vem Miller describes its proprietor as “an investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and a content producer,” who has labored on initiatives for well-known networks together with Netflix and VICE Media.

The web page additionally suggests Miller was a part of a profitable music video director duo known as Vem & Tony, and helped direct music movies for artists like DMX and Trey Songz, in keeping with IMDB. A person who seems to be this Vem Miller might be seen making a short look within the background of archival footage from the current Kanye West documentary Jeen-Yuhs.

Social media belonging to a Vem Miller of Las Vegas exhibits as man posing for selfies with MAGA and conservative figures together with Steve Bannon, Steven Miller, Russell Brand, Robert F Kennedy Jr and Newt Gingrich. A self-filmed video exhibits the identical man on the Republican National Convention, describing “good people, good times”, and coming near Donald Trump Jr as he walks previous.

The social media account hyperlinks to a content material firm known as The American Happens Network, a community of documentaries and podcast that includes themes and figures related to the political proper, together with a documentary in regards to the assassination of John F Kennedy purportedly narrated by former Trump adviser Roger Stone, and a podcast hosted by Miller known as Blood Money. The LinkedIn account describes Miller as a accomplice within the community.

A Rumble web page for an internet interview present known as Where Are The Men? contains a man named Vem Miller, whose look matches pictures on these social media accounts, interviewing well-liked right-wing figures, together with British MP Nigel Farage and Trump supporter and My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell.

Is Vem Miller a Republican?

Miller has been described as a Republican by regulation enforcement, and public information seen by The Independent recommend a 49-year-old Vem Miller from Las Vegas is registered with the GOP.

Sheriff Bianco mentioned it didn’t matter what occasion Miller belonged to.

“I couldn’t care less what political party he belongs to,” the Riverside Sheriff mentioned on Sunday, describing Miller as a “lunatic” who held “fringe” anti-government views. He mentioned that so far as he was involved, the person arrested was a suspected would-be murderer.

A Nevada man named Vem Miller ran for state meeting in Nevada’s District 13 as a Republican in 2022, in keeping with the Nevada Secretary of State’s workplace.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journalthis Vem Miller was involved with purported problems with voter fraud and was concerned in an ongoing lawsuit claiming he and others had not been allowed to look at vote-counting. The paper additionally mentioned he was in favor of photo voltaic vitality initiatives and needed to deliver extra electrical automobile manufacturing to Nevada. He didn’t win the election.