The 49-year-old man arrested for having weapons outside Donald Trump’s rally in California on Saturday has denied an assassination plot.
The man, named by police as Vem Miller, was arrested at a security checkpoint on Saturday after he was found in possession of two guns and a high-capacity magazine, authorities said.
The Las Vegas resident has denied planning to carry out any illegal acts, and has said he is a Trump supporter who did not realise state law on guns differed from his home state of Nevada.
Miller was stopped in a black SUV by deputies from the Riverside County sheriff's office on Saturday and taken into custody without incident.
“The incident did not impact the safety of former President Trump or attendees of the event," the sheriff's office said in a press release.
Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July, when a gunman's bullet grazed his ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
In September, another man was charged with trying to assassinate Trump after Secret Service agents discovered him hiding with a rifle near Trump's Palm Beach golf course. He pleaded not guilty.
Trump's rally on Saturday took place in the Coachella Valley, an area known for its annual music and arts festival.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told a news conference on Sunday afternoon that Miller had claimed to be a journalist but it was unclear if he had the proper credentials.
Deputies noticed the interior of the vehicle was "in disarray" and a search uncovered the weapons and ammo, along with multiple passports and driver’s licences with different names, Sheriff Bianco said.
"What we do know is he showed up with multiple passports with different names, an unregistered vehicle with a fake licence plate and loaded firearms," the sheriff said at a news conference on Sunday afternoon.
"I truly do believe that we prevented another assassination attempt."
The suspect made it past an outer security boundary and was stopped at an inner perimeter patrolled by the sheriff's department, he said.
Another security checkpoint closer to the rally site was operated by the US Secret Service.
Any plan to use the guns was vehemently denied by Miller, who told the Southern California News Group: “These accusations are complete bull***t. I’m an artist, I’m the last person that would cause any violence and harm to anybody.”
The outlet reported that Miller was a registered Republican who ran for state Assembly in Nevada in 2022.
Miller later told Fox that he was “100% a Trump supporter”.
When asked about Miller’s comments, Sheriff Bianco told media: “We know that we prevented something bad from happening, and it’s irrelevant what that bad was going to be.”
Jail records show Miller was released on $5,000 (£3,827) bail on Saturday after being charged with possession of a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine, both misdemeanours.
He is due to appear in court on January 2, 2025, according to online records.
Trump’s campaign has not commented directly on the incident.
