US police have foiled a third assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, arresting a man with a loaded weapon and a fake entry permit at a rally in California.
According to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office on October 13, Vem Miller (49 years old), a resident of Las Vegas, was arrested at a checkpoint outside the event venue, carrying an illegally owned handgun, a loaded pistol and a large magazine.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told local media that Miller presented a fake VIP pass and press pass at the checkpoint.
“We may have prevented another assassination attempt,” Chief Bianco said in a statement to the Press-Enterprise.
Sheriff Bianco described Miller as a member of a group of radical libertarians who believe the government cannot exercise its legitimate power. Miller is a Republican who holds a master’s degree from the University of California and is running for state assembly in Nevada in 2022. Miller has not confirmed or denied the plot to assassinate Mr. Trump.
The 49-year-old suspect was released on $5,000 bail and is due to appear in court next January on charges of illegal possession of weapons.
In just three months, Mr. Trump has survived two failed assassination attempts. In July, the former president and Republican presidential candidate narrowly escaped death at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania when a bullet fired from about 150 meters away grazed his ear. The gunman was killed at the scene.
The second assassination attempt took place at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September. A gunman was found lying in wait in the bushes and aimed a gun at Trump, but was later found and fled the scene. The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, was “obsessed” with the Ukraine conflict.
In a statement last month, Republican congressman Matt Gaetz said there are currently five assassination groups in the US seeking to kill Mr Trump, three of which are linked to Iran, Pakistan and Ukraine.
Faced with potential threats, Trump’s campaign team has asked the White House to provide military assets to bolster security. On October 11, US President Joe Biden said he had ordered the Secret Service to protect Trump “as if he were a sitting president” and provide security assistance at the request of his campaign.
The US Secret Service confirmed that it had received a request for increased protection but did not disclose details.
“The former president is being protected at the highest level,” a representative for the agency said, noting that agents will continue to provide protection to address potential threats.