Police ‘thwart potential third assassination attempt’ against Trump

The Telegraph:  A potential third assassination attempt against Donald Trump was thwarted on Sunday, police have claimed.

Officers from the Riverside County Sheriff stopped Vem Miller, 49, at the perimeter of Trump’s rally in Coachella on Saturday, carrying weapons that the local sheriff said were likely intended for “another assassination attempt”.

If police are correct, the incident would mark the third time that Trump has been targeted by gunmen in the last four months, amid concern about the level of security around him on the campaign trail.

Mr Miller, who lives in Las Vegas and was described as belonging to a Right-wing group, was later bailed, and the US Secret Service assigned to protect Trump said his arrest “did not impact protective operations”.

But Chad Bianco, the Riverside County Sheriff in charge of local policing, told a local news outlet: “We probably stopped another assassination attempt.”

In a press conference on Sunday evening, Mr Bianco said he did not remember claiming that Mr Miller was an assassin, and admitted he had no evidence other than the seized guns, several false passports and a fake licence plate on his car.

However, he added: “If you’re asking me right now, I probably did have deputies that prevented the third assassination”, and accused those who doubted his theory about Mr Miller of being “politically lost”.

“If we are that politically lost, that we have lost sight of common sense and reality and reason, that we can’t say that…holy c--p,” he said. “What did he show up with all of that stuff for?”

Shotgun and handgun

He said police had recovered a shotgun, a handgun and a high-capacity magazine from the black SUV Mr Miller was driving, which was stopped at a police checkpoint with invalid media and “VIP” credentials.

Mr Miller was charged with two misdemeanour firearms offences, and is scheduled to appear in court in January, according to police records. Any further charges would be brought by the FBI. He was released from police custody on a $5,000 bail.

Both the FBI and Trump’s campaign told US media they did not believe the incident represented a threat to the former president’s life, and that an assassination attempt had not taken place.

Mr Miller, who is a Trump supporter, denies the claim he intended to assassinate the former president, and told the Southern California News Group he was “shocked” to be arrested.

“These accusations are complete bull---t,” he said. “I’m an artist, I’m the last person that would cause any violence and harm to anybody.”

He said he had informed the police he was carrying guns in the car and that he had been invited to the rally by a local Republican chairman.

‘Unite and fight’

Trump, who suffered a grazed ear from a bullet in an assassination attempt in July, has used the threats on his life as a campaign tool, telling supporters they must “unite” and “fight”.

A second suspected plot was foiled last month when the former president’s protective team spotted the barrel of a rifle poking out of the shrubbery on Trump’s Florida golf course.

Ryan Routh, 58, was arrested and charged with five federal crimes. He denies the charges.

On Sunday night, the Riverside County Sheriff’s office said Mr Miller was “found to be illegally in possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine” and taken into custody.

Mr Bianco, a Trump supporter, told local media that Mr Miller had “probably” intended to assassinate the former president, and had raised suspicion by presenting false press and VIP credentials at a police checkpoint.

“They were different enough to cause the deputies alarm,” he said.

He added that he was surprised the incident had taken place in Coachella, a small city known mainly for its nearby music festival.

“We don’t have the same sicko issues and violent protests like they have in Los Angeles,” he said. “We’re better than that. Go figure.”

In a joint statement, the FBI and Secret Service said they assessed that “the incident did not impact protective operations and former President Trump was not in any danger”.

“While no federal arrest has been made at this time, the investigation is ongoing,” they said.

The agency was criticised for its apparent failure to protect Trump back in July, when 20-year-old Matthew Crooks opened fire on him from a nearby rooftop, grazing him in the ear with a bullet. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper.

The second suspected attempt, on Sept 15, was foiled by Trump’s protective team and local police.