Vem Miller, the man arrested on gun charges outside a recent campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in California, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Miller claims Bianco’s assertion that local authorities had “probably stopped another assassination attempt” is unfounded and harmful to his reputation.
Arrest Details
The lawsuit, submitted in federal court on Tuesday, also names the County of Riverside and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Miller was arrested near the Coachella event after officers discovered firearms in his vehicle during a security checkpoint. Along with the guns, which included a shotgun and a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine, officers found multiple passports and driver’s licenses bearing different names. Bianco noted that Miller was driving an unregistered vehicle with a homemade license plate, describing it as typical of individuals linked to the far-right “sovereign citizen” movement.
Miller, who previously ran for the Nevada State Assembly in 2022, was charged with possession of a loaded firearm and a high-capacity magazine. Following his arrest, he was briefly booked before being released on a $5,000 bail.
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Claims of Defamation
In a statement to reporters, Bianco implied that Miller’s actions could have been indicative of a threat, saying, “If you’re asking me right now, I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination attempt.” This comment referenced the various alleged attempts on Trump’s life this year. However, federal authorities later clarified that Trump was never in any danger during the Coachella incident.
Miller responded to Bianco’s statements, asserting that the sheriff had “committed career suicide” by suggesting he was an assassination threat. Miller maintained that he had brought weapons for self-protection due to death threats related to his work with The America Happens Network, his media company. He stated, “As of right this second, I could prove everything they said is untrue… He’s going to lose his job.”
Questions About Invitation
In a video posted to Rumble, Miller claimed he was an “actual invitee” to the Trump event and had received a “special invitation from members of the Nevada Republican Party.” His attorney, Sigal Chattah, echoed this, stating that Miller was “provided expedited special entry passes by the Trump 47 campaign directly.” This raises questions about whether Miller truly received any official invitation to the Coachella event.
However, the Trump campaign stated there was “no record” of a credential or press pass issued to Miller. Communication with the Nevada GOP revealed a lack of information regarding who might have credentialed Miller, with Vice Chair Jim Hindle stating, “Certainly not me.”
Sheriff’s Response
After federal authorities released their statement, Bianco elaborated on his position. He acknowledged the lack of threat at the time of the arrest but emphasized the importance of maintaining safety at the rally. “It was my responsibility to keep that place safe, and he tried to bring guns to a rally,” he said. Bianco also expressed frustration over the political fallout from the incident, noting, “Right now you’ve got Democrats attacking us, you’ve got Republicans attacking us.”
Legal Allegations
In addition to defamation, Miller’s lawsuit alleges invasion of privacy and claims that officers engaged in “deliberate and wrongful conduct,” violating his constitutional rights to promote a sensationalized narrative. Miller argues that the actions of the sheriff’s office have caused significant harm to his reputation and personal life.
The Coachella incident has drawn attention, especially following two recent assassination attempts on Trump. Ryan Routh faces federal charges for allegedly planning to shoot Trump at his golf club in Florida, while another suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot by the Secret Service during a rally in Pennsylvania.
