As the election draws ever closer, we are moving into the realm of the surreal. A third attempt on the life of former President Trump was reportedly halted Saturday at his Coachella, California, rally, when local law enforcement stopped a man carrying firearms and faked entry passes. And it just gets stranger from there:
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A third assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump was thwarted at the last minute Saturday when local cops stopped a man armed with guns and fake passes outside his rally at Coachella Valley, the local sheriff said.
The suspect was caught about a mile from the rally venue with a phony-entry pass, according to police. He was also carrying a loaded shotgun, handgun and high capacity magazine.
“We probably stopped another assassination attempt,” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said.
The suspect, identified as Vem Miller, was intercepted by police at a checkpoint about a half-mile from the rally entrance. He was carrying a fake phony [sic] press and VIP passes.
It’s unclear to which firearm the “high capacity magazine” belonged, but it was likely the handgun, since most shotguns have fixed magazines. What’s more, both of these are short-range weapons, meaning that this would-be assassin intended to close within 50 yards or so. Given the increased security around the former president after two previous assassination attempts, that would be a difficult task indeed.
Here’s the baffling part of all this:
Miller is believed to be a member of a rightwing anti-government organization, according to Bianco, and was plotting to kill Trump.
He has a UCLA Masters degree, and in 2022 ran for Nevada State assembly, the newspaper reported.
Miller was booked for possessing a loaded firearm and a high capacity magazine — and was released after posting $5,000 bail, police records show.
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Released? He was released? On a bail of $5,000? Granted he was stopped a mile away, and the only thing he can be charged with is the possession of a loaded gun, and the high-capacity magazine, which likely is prohibited in California. Even so, one would think that whatever judge this came in front of would have tried to max out the allowable bail.
It would be interesting to know what evidence the Riverside County Sheriff’s office has on Miller – a UCLA graduate – being a member of a “rightwing anti-government organization,” which evidence is not presented. But the primary assessment – that these cops thwarted what was very likely a third attempt to assassinate Donald Trump – is very plausible.
A third attempt. Think about that for a moment. This is something that, in the history of the republic, we have not seen before.
Previously on RedState: WON’T BACK DOWN: Injured Trump Pumps Fist As Blood Streams Down Face
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department released a statement:
On Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 4:59 p.m., deputies assigned to former President Donald Trump’s rally in the Coachella Valley contacted the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive. The male driver, identified as Vem Miller, a 49-year-old resident of Las Vegas, was found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine. 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. This incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy Coronado at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 836–1600.
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At this time, it seems there are more questions than answers. All we know about the apparent would-be assassin is his name, that he’s from Las Vegas, and the details around his arrest. Everything else is speculation.
UPDATED [5:52 p.m. EST]: The NY Post (linked above) has updated its report, adding additional details, including the circumstances of the car being searched:
The suspect — identified as 49-year-old Las Vegas resident Vem Miller — was caught at a checkpoint about a quarter-mile from the rally with fake VIP passes to the rally and fake press passes — as well as unregistered weapons, including a loaded shotgun, a handgun and a high-capacity magazine, according to the Riverside County sheriff’s office.
Miller did not have a valid ID when he was stopped at the rally checkpoint, and was detained after police searched his vehicle and found the weapons, law enforcement sources told The Post.
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However, law enforcement sources told The Post that the FBI does not believe this was an assassination attempt, and the former president’s life was never in danger. (emphasis added)
This is a developing story. RedState will watch this and bring you updates as events warrant.