FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: $100MM CIVIL RIGHTS AND DEFAMATION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF CHAD BIANCO
WHAT: Press conference regarding the filing of a federal civil rights lawsuit by Vem Miller against Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the County of Riverside, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and Deputy David Coronado. The lawsuit alleges violations of constitutional rights, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress following Mr. Miller's arrest near a Trump rally in October 2024.
WHEN: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 12:30 PM PT
WHERE: Riverside County Courthouse, 4100 Main Street Riverside, CA 92501
WHO:
Vem Miller, Plaintiff
Ethan Bearman, Attorney at Law, The Bearman Firm, Inc.
DETAILS:
The lawsuit alleges Sheriff Bianco and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department violated Mr. Miller's constitutional rights and deliberately made false public statements identifying Miller as a "would-be Trump assassin" despite knowledge that federal authorities had dismissed any such concerns.
The lawsuit alleges Sheriff Bianco and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department violated Mr. Miller's constitutional rights and deliberately made false public statements identifying Miller as a "would-be Trump assassin" despite knowledge that federal authorities had dismissed any such concerns.
Mr. Miller, a Nevada resident and documented supporter of President Trump, was detained on October 12, 2024, after voluntarily disclosing to deputies that he had firearms in his vehicle approximately one mile from a Trump rally in Coachella, California. The complaint alleges that rather than simply issuing a citation, deputies detained Miller, conducted an excessive search of his vehicle, ignored his medical distress, and performed medical procedures without his consent.
Following Miller's arrest on misdemeanor weapons charges, Sheriff Bianco held press conferences and gave multiple media interviews falsely claiming that Miller intended to assassinate President Trump, despite the FBI and Secret Service declining to even interview Miller due to the absence of any credible threat.
The complaint includes claims for:
1. First and Fourth Amendment violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
2. Municipal liability for failure to train
3. The Tom Bane Civil Rights Act violations
4. Defamation (slander and libel per se)
5. False light
6. Intentional infliction of emotional distress
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages of $100MM, attorney's fees, and costs.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Email: pr@thebearmanfirm.com
Media inquiries should be directed to:
Email: pr@thebearmanfirm.com
Link to the Complaint - https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:f54954f4-13f7-40c9-9ea5-2879a63e32ad