A man from Las Vegas, who was taken into custody at a campaign event for former President Donald Trump in California, released a video on Monday refuting claims from local law enforcement that he threatened to assassinate Trump. He called these allegations “false and defamatory” and affirmed his strong support for the Republican presidential candidate.

In his video, Vem Miller, 49, stated, “I’ve received a flood of calls in the short time since these false statements were made by the police in this area.”

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, however, maintained his stance on the matter, affirming that the police would handle it in the same manner again if it reoccurred.

In his video posted on Rumble, Miller declared his support for Trump, revealing his background: “In 2022, I ran for office in Nevada as a Republican. Since 2000, I’ve been engaged with the Republican Party in Nevada. I’m a Trump caucus captain, and I’ve gathered votes for Donald Trump, serving as a team leader as well.”

Miller decided to attend the rally at the Calhoun Ranch in Riverside County, just outside Coachella, following what he described as a special invitation from members of the Nevada Republican Party.

Officials from the Republican Party in Nevada have not commented on Miller’s claims regarding his affiliation with the party and the invitation to the rally. A representative from the Clark County Republican Party also declined to respond.

In a phone interview later on Monday, Sheriff Bianco asserted that the deputy who encountered Miller acted appropriately. He noted that Miller displayed several concerning behaviors and brought weapons to a political event for a candidate previously threatened by would-be assassins.

Bianco criticized Miller’s explanations as an attempt at damage control, asserting, “He’s making completely false statements. There’s absolutely nothing we could have done differently in this situation.”

Miller explained that upon arriving at the rally, he was directed to a special entrance with parking. Before entering the parking area, he informed authorities at the checkpoint that he had two firearms in his car’s trunk – a Glock handgun and a shotgun, which he claimed was purely for protection.

Authorities reported that he was arrested at the checkpoint for illegally possessing a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine. Additionally, he was found with several seemingly fictitious passports under different names and was driving an unregistered vehicle with what officers deemed a homemade license plate, commonly associated with far-right anti-government groups.

Miller was processed at the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, California, facing misdemeanor charges, but he was released without bail. The Secret Service confirmed he does not face any federal charges.

“The U.S. Secret Service believes that this incident did not disrupt protective operations, and former President Trump was not in danger,” the Secret Service stated, along with the FBI and the U.S. attorney’s office, adding that the investigation is still ongoing.

Concerns Over Potential Threats

However, Sheriff Bianco, a supporter of Trump, speculated that Miller may have intended to harm the former president.

“If you’re asking me right now, I would say that my deputies likely thwarted a third assassination attempt,” Bianco mentioned, having endorsed Trump’s presidential campaign earlier this summer.

In July, the Secret Service faced criticism after a 20-year-old gunman managed to fire multiple shots at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. This incident resulted in injuries to Trump and one fatality among the audience, with the gunman ultimately being killed by a Secret Service agent.

Federal officials recently intercepted what they described as another plot to assassinate Trump in Florida, where a man named Ryan Routh, 58, was arrested for allegedly hiding with a rifle in bushes at a golf course where Trump was scheduled to play. He has pleaded not guilty to the assassination attempt charges.

Bianco, who is positioning himself as a prospective candidate for California governor in the 2026 race, was present at the

The latest incident took place Saturday evening at a rally.

“I will attend because I am responsible for ensuring the safety of the former president and all attendees, particularly given the recent attempts on his life,” Bianco stated in an email ahead of the event. “Our community should be confident that they will be secure while participating in the rally.”

Bianco mentioned that Miller approached the rally’s perimeter before it began and mistakenly claimed to have VIP access as part of the press, which he actually was not. Deputies noticed several “irregularities,” such as a fake license plate, which led to further investigation, Bianco explained.

Was there an assassination attempt? Not so fast.

On Monday, Miller released a lengthy video to counter Bianco’s statements and express his support for Trump.

In the video, Miller threatened to take legal action against Bianco for his remarks. He also identified himself as a partner in a conservative online media company called America Happens Network. He has shared numerous photos on his Instagram with Trump associates like Steve Bannon and Roger Stone.

“While we have always been strong advocates for President Donald Trump, we don’t associate ourselves with any political party other than one that champions our freedoms, constitutional rights, medical liberties, and fights against the corruption plaguing our officials,” Miller stated.

Miller expressed his belief that his media company would eventually become popular. However, he remarked, “I never anticipated the most shocking story would involve me and the false claims being spread online.”

In a conversation with the Los Angeles Times, Miller asserted: “Everything they said about me is false and can be proven. Sadly, it seems that Bianco has jeopardized his career.”

Miller told The Times that his lawyers are preparing a “significant lawsuit” against the county. “As of right now, I can demonstrate that everything they claimed is inaccurate. It’s going to be detrimental. … That sheriff is going to lose his job.”

Trump recognized Bianco during his speech

During his speech on Saturday, Trump praised Bianco while acknowledging local leaders, stating he “liked him from the moment we met” and described Bianco as having “the most wonderful family I’ve ever seen.”

“I told him, ‘Sheriff, you’re amazing, but your family is even better looking than you,’” Trump added, noting that Bianco successfully managed the rally “because he’s tough, smart, and takes pride in his state and country.”