Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County, California, said he may have prevented a third assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump after stopping a man at a road checkpoint who was allegedly in possession of an illegal firearm, or firearms, and fake rally passes.
On Saturday, just before 5 p.m, deputies assigned to Trump's security detail for his Coachella Valley rally stopped the driver of a black SUV, Vem Miller, 49, half a mile from the rally entrance, according to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office. Miller "was found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine," as well as fake press and VIP passes.
"We probably stopped another assassination attempt," Bianco said, according to the New York Post.
The sheriff's office said that Miller was taken into custody "without incident" and booked at the John J. Benoit Detention Center for "possession of a loaded firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine."
He was released Saturday on $5,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at the Indio Larson Justice Center on Jan. 2, 2025.
Nick Koutsobinas ✉
Nick Koutsobinas, a Newsmax writer, has years of news reporting experience. A graduate from Missouri State University’s philosophy program, he focuses on exposing corruption and censorship.
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