The suspect is charged with using a firearm, but denies attempting to harm the former US president and Republican candidate.
U.S. marshals say law enforcement officers thwarted a third assassination attempt on Donald Trump after a man was arrested with an unregistered firearm near the Republican candidate’s California campaign rally over the weekend. He said it was highly likely that he did.
On Sunday afternoon, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told reporters that officers stopped the man at a security perimeter outside the former president’s event in Coachella the day before.
Bianco said the suspects “showed up with multiple passports in different names, an unregistered vehicle with fake license plates, and a firearm.”
“As far as I’m concerned right now, there were probably agents who thwarted a third assassination attempt," the sheriff told reporters.
The man, identified as Bem Miller, 49, of Nevada, was taken into custody without incident, the sheriff’s office said in a statement on the same day.
Authorities said Miller was found to be in possession of two guns and a high-capacity magazine and was charged with firearms charges. He was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on January 2, 2025.
In an interview with Southern California News Group, Miller, who said he is a Trump supporter, denied trying to harm the former president.
“These accusations are completely bogus,” Miller said. “I’m an artist. I would never commit violence or harm to anyone.”
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment on the arrest.
“The U.S. Secret Service assesses that this incident did not impact protection operations and that former President Trump was not in any danger,” the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement Sunday. . “No federal arrests have been made at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.”
The incident comes just weeks after authorities charged a man with trying to assassinate President Trump at a Florida golf course in late September.
Prosecutors have accused Ryan Routh of intending to kill the former president while he was playing golf at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on September 15th.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The arrest in Florida was the second apparent assassination attempt against President Trump in recent months. In July, a gunman opened fire at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, hitting him in the ear.
The shooting sparked intense criticism and questions about the security protocols put in place for the event.
Last month, the U.S. Secret Service acknowledged a series of failures it made during an event in Butler, Pennsylvania, including “deficiencies” in its advanced security plan and poor coordination with local police.
