Las Vegas man arrested outside Trump rally sues California sheriff

The man arrested at a checkpoint outside of former President Donald Trump’s rally in California on Saturday for illegally possessing two loaded firearms filed a lawsuit on Tuesday accusing Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco of damages including defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

Vem Miller, the 49-year-old Las Vegas man arrested outside the rally, said in his filing that Bianco “wanted to create a narrative so as to be viewed as a ‘heroic’ Sheriff who saved Presidential candidate Trump from a third assassination attempt.” Miller also named Riverside County, the sheriff's department itself and a deputy in his lawsuit, though Bianco is the only defendant listed by name.

The Riverside County Sheriff's department declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, but did acknowledge that it takes "such matters seriously," is "committed to transparency" and "will cooperate fully with the legal process."

Bianco, a Republican who endorsed Trump and is a critic of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, is considering a long-shot run for California governor in 2026. On Sunday, he said, “I truly do believe that we prevented another assassination attempt and it was solely by our effort of keeping those types of people out.”

Miller alleges that Bianco lied when he said the sheriff’s department prevented an assassination attempt against Trump in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for Nevada. The complaint also claims that Bianco holding press conferences perpetuated "a false narrative against Miller.”

The Riverside County Sheriff’s department arrested Miller before Trump arrived at the rally, according to Bianco on Sunday . The sheriff said Miller illegally possessed a shotgun, a handgun and a high-capacity magazine for the handgun in his car. According to the complaint, Miller was in Riverside County to attend the Trump rally.

“Even after being notified by both United States Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation that they did not believe Miller was a threat and declined to interview him, Defendant Bianco continued to make preposterous allegations against Miller, holding press conferences perpetuating his delusional and false narrative,” the complaint said.