Florida, United States

Vem Miller, 49, the man wrongfully accused of attempting to assassinate former United States President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in the US state of California last week has filed a lawsuit against the sheriff who levelled the accusations. 

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Miller was arrested on Saturday (Oct 12) for possessing firearms outside Trump's rally despite having a VIP pass to attend the event. He alleged that the Riverside County Sheriff, Chad Bianco, "intentionally, maliciously and with a blatant disregard for the truth" framed him to be viewed as a 'heroic sheriff' who saved the former US president's life. 

"Riverside police engaged in deliberate and wrongful conduct and compromised police protocol, violating Miller’s constitutional rights for the purpose of promoting and engaging in a meritless and gratuitous sensational story," reads the lawsuit. 

Miller has filed 10 claims in the federal lawsuit which also states that despite the FBI and Secret Service not perceiving him as a threat, the police officers did not believe him and continued to make "preposterous allegations" and "holding press conferences" to further the false narrative. 

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Watch | US News: Another Assassination Attempt On Trump?

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Speaking about the ordeal he had gone through, Miller said it felt like the authorities had dropped a 'nuclear bomb' on his head. 

"They essentially dropped a nuclear bomb into my life where my life will never be the same, regardless. You know, there's a legal word called restitution, which means to make you whole again after a calamity like this. And there is no ultimate restitution in this," Miller was quoted as saying by Fox News. 

According to the authorities, Miller was carrying a loaded handgun, a shotgun, and a high-capacity magazine when he was apprehended. 

"They keep saying that I was trying to get into the Trump rally with guns, which is highly inaccurate. The accurate description of what I was trying to do is that I was trying to go to a private parking lot, park my car, then walk at least a quarter-of-a-mile," Miller added.

Also read | Trump rally suspect Vem Miller denies assassination plot: 'These accusations are complete bulls**t!'

Notably, Miller, a Las Vegas, resident is a Republican supporter who was invited to the rally by the head of the Clark County GOP Party.

According to Southern California News Group, he is a registered Republican and has a master's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2022, he unsuccessfully ran for office in Nevada because "this country has been taken over by tyranny". 

(With inputs from agencies)