A man from Las Vegas was taken into custody for carrying loaded weapons, several passports under different names, and an unregistered vehicle at a checkpoint prior to a rally for former President Donald Trump in Southern California on Saturday, as reported by officials.

Vem Miller, 49, was apprehended by deputies who were stationed at Trump’s rally in the Coachella Valley, where he was discovered to have a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine in his possession, according to law enforcement sources.

According to a joint statement from the Secret Service, the FBI, and the U.S. attorney’s office, Trump’s safety was never compromised.

This incident follows two prior attempts on Trump’s life. In September, Ryan Wesley Routh was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump after authorities found him with a high-powered rifle outside Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach. Routh has pleaded not guilty.

Additionally, Trump narrowly evaded a fatal shooting when he was shot in the ear by Matthew Crooks during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. One attendee, Corey Comperatore, lost his life, and two others were critically hurt. Secret Service agents eliminated Crooks.

Who is Vem Miller?

Miller is a registered Republican with a master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, according to the Southern California News Group. He attempted to run for state Assembly in Nevada in 2022, but was unsuccessful in the primary.

In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2022, Miller expressed that he was pursuing a political career because “this country has been taken over by tyranny,” and he claimed he would address concerns about alleged voter fraud, as reported by the Review-Journal.

Professionally, Miller works in the film and TV industry and hosts a podcast called “Blood Money” on the American Happens Network, which he founded. The podcast covers issues of corruption, controversy, and conspiracy—subjects that mainstream media often overlooks, according to its website.

On Sunday, Bianco remarked that Miller’s vehicle was unregistered and had a homemade license plate, a tactic commonly associated with the far-right sovereign citizens movement.

What charges does he face?

Miller has been charged locally with possession of a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine.

The Secret Service clarified that he does not face any federal charges.

Was Vem Miller released on bail?

Miller was taken to the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, California, and released on Saturday after posting $5,000 bail, according to the detention center’s records. Details regarding the conditions of his bail were not available.

He is expected to appear at the Indio Larson Justice Center on January 2, as indicated in the department’s inmate database.

According to Bianco, local law enforcement had set up security measures with an outer perimeter allowing individuals who belonged in the area to pass and an inner perimeter guiding attendees in the correct direction. Miller encountered local deputies at the checkpoint within the inner perimeter, Bianco stated.

Was Trump present at the rally?

Miller’s arrest occurred prior to Trump’s arrival at the rally, confirmed Bianco on Sunday.

The Secret Service stated in their release that they “assess that the incident did not impact protective operations and that former President Trump was not in any danger.”