Las Vegas Trump Supporter Denies Wrongdoing at California Rally for Former President

The Las Vegas man who was apprehended over the weekend at a pro-Donald Trump rally in Coachella, California is proclaiming his innocence this week despite weapons charges.

Donald Trump
Former President Donald Trump, pictured above. A Las Vegas man was cited on weapons charges at the rally for Trump. (Image: X.com)

Vem Miller, 49, who runs a “Veterans in Politics” podcast, was arrested on  Saturday after deputies located firearms and ammo in a car he was driving. He faces two misdemeanors and initially was suspected of an assassination attempt.

As far as what took place this weekend, the allegations made by the sheriff and the deputy are false,” Miller told Las Vegas TV station KTNV. “The only thing that happened is what I do when I go to all these rallies, which is to … let police know I’m carrying, lawfully, firearms in my trunk.”

He didn’t realize gun laws in California’s Riverside County are different from those in Nevada.

Officers charged him after the magazine of his gun was in the chamber and a barrel was improperly on his gun, Miller told KTNV.

He carries the weapons because people have made death threats against him, Miller revealed.

He’s also expecting to bring a case to court in an effort to clear his name.

Miller Loves Trump

Also, Steve Sanson, a Las Vegas resident who serves as president of Veterans In Politics International, further told KTNV that, “Miller loves President Trump.”

He has canvassed for him. He is one of the canvas captains. He was invited by the Trump team to come to California,” Sanson added.

“In California, you have to separate the magazine from the weapon to be in the vehicle legally. In Nevada, the magazine can be in the weapon. That was the only thing he did wrong.”

The car Miller was driving is owned by his parents, according to Sanson. He may not have realized it was unregistered. Miller had multiple IDs in the car because he changed his name when he ran for political office, Sanson added.

Sheriff Defends Deputies

But Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said his deputies actually may have halted an attempted assassination against Trump by apprehending Miller.

A sheriff’s deputy “found multiple passports with multiple names, multiple driver’s licenses with different names, the vehicle was unregistered, and the license plate was what we in law enforcement would recognize as one that is homemade and indicative of a group of individuals that claim to be sovereign citizens,” Bianco said in a statement.

There is absolutely no way that any of us are going to truly know what was in his head,” Bianco added. “I can tell you that none of the other probably 50,000 people that showed up for that event brought multiple passports with different names and guns. I am glad that we’re not talking about this after we shot him.”

In recent weeks, there have been two assassination attempts on Trump’s life. In one of them Trump suffered a wounded ear.

The post Las Vegas Trump Supporter Denies Wrongdoing at California Rally for Former President appeared first on Casino.org.

Wynn Las Vegas President Steve Weitman Leaving Company

Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: WYNN) noted today Steve Weitman, the president of the operator’s Las Vegas Strip properties, is leaving the company effective June 10.

Wynn Resorts
Wynn and Encore on the Las Vegas Strip. President Steve Weitman is leaving the venues in June after two decades with the company. (Image: Luxury Lifestyle Magazine)

The executive didn’t give a reason for his departure beyond noting he’s evaluating other opportunities and now is “the right time to pursue my next chapter.”

After 20 years with this great company and leading the property to the best financial results in its history, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore are in an excellent operating position,” Weitman said in a letter to colleagues and staff at the Strip venues. “This has been an amazing journey and I could not be prouder to have worked alongside the best in the business. The friendships and relationships I’ve built with many of you over the last two decades will last a lifetime, for which I am most grateful.”

Wynn and Encore Las Vegas are the operator’s Sin City properties and two of its three US venues with the other being Encore Boston Harbor.

Weitman Had Long History with Wynn

When he leaves the gaming company on June 10, Weitman will have spent just over two decades with the firm.

He joined as senior vice president of Wynn Las Vegas — a role he held for 12 years and five months — in May 2004. In September 2016, he was promoted to chief operating officer (COO) of the Sin City venues. He occupied that role until January 2023 when he was elevated to president.

“All of us will miss Steve, but after such a long and successful run, we can all understand why he now wants some time to consider other life options. … Steve has been an integral part of Wynn Las Vegas for 20 years. He has demonstrated a singular level of dedication to Wynn and has contributed so much to our success. His career within the company has been inspiring to so many,” said Wynn CEO Craig Billings in a note to staff.

Prior to joining Wynn, Weitman spent more than eight years as director of operations and licensing for Walt Disney at that company’s Burbank, Calif. headquarters.

Interesting Timing for Weitman Departure

While neither Weitman nor Wynn gave a specific reason for the executive’s decision to leave the helm of Wynn Las Vegas, his departure comes as the operator is embroiled in litigation against Fontainebleau Las Vegas for pilfering Wynn staffers.

Wynn formally sued Fontainebleau in late February with the newest venue on the Strip firing back with a legal complain of its own less than a month later. Wynn believes that several former culinary and nightlife employees that jumped ship to Fontainebleau actively attempted to recruit former colleagues still employed at Wynn and some may have violated non-compete agreements with Wynn.

To be clear, there is no news at this point about Weitman moving to another casino or staying in the gaming industry following his June departure from Wynn Las Vegas.

The post Wynn Las Vegas President Steve Weitman Leaving Company appeared first on Casino.org.

President of Mexico Vows to Cancel All Casino Licenses Issued in Last 4 Years

president_of_mexico_vows_to_cancel_all_casino_licenses_issued_in_Last_4_yearsAccording to a 1947 law, gambling halls and casinos are supposed to be illegal in Mexico. However, hundreds of them exist and former President Vincente Fox was given powers by the courts to authorize licensing in order to create revenues through taxes as well as bolster the tourist trade.

Current president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador made no secret of his anti-gambling stance when he ran for and won the presidency, and has not personally authorized or issued any new licenses since he took office on December 1, 2018. In September of the next year, he re-affirmed his stance against issuing any new licenses in a gesture that was widely seen as an effort to reassure the Catholic church that he was on its side on the issue.

Casino Opposition Increased After Fire

The church and specifically Cardinal Rogelio Cabrera, head of the Mexican Episcopate, strengthened opposition to casino gambling after about 25 gunmen, purportedly members of the Los Zetas drug cartel stormed the Casino Royale in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. The men doused the casino in flammable liquids and lit it on fire trapping over 50 people inside. At least 50 people were killed in the tragedy.

At a recent press conference, the president stated that his government will not only refrain from issuing any new licenses but will also revoke any that may have been granted in the last four years. Mexican presidents are limited to a single six-year term.

At the presser, López Obrador declared he would request a report from the head of the Secretariat for Home Affairs, Adán Augusto López Hernández in order to take control of the current process for issuing licenses.

Prior to leaving office in 2005, the former Secretariat issued more than 750 licenses to gaming parlors across the country.

The president stated in reply to a reporter’s question about licensing and an upcoming casino industry conference: “Casinos should not be opened, we are not giving permission to open casinos. We are not. And I am going to ask the Secretariat for Home Affairs for a report because, if there is a new license, it is canceled, because the instruction is not to deliver any license.”

Licensing Process “Inadequate”?

It’s unclear if López Obrador will follow through on his threat to jerk existing licenses so far into his term. He had earlier asked Olga Sánchez Cordero, a prior Secretary of Home Affairs whether or not licenses issued under the previous administration had been under a lawful process. Obrador has stated in the past the process was “inadequate”.

Some legal scholars have differed on the legislative appendix process used to authorize deviance from earlier laws that specifically outlawed casino operations but in the 2000s many lawmakers were behind efforts to bring casino gambling to major coastal resort hotels. In recent years, some state governors have taken it upon themselves to issue more local licenses.
There is no unified federal framework for casino legislation, anti-money laundering controls, or even a unified tax code across the country. Online gambling is authorized loosely although there are no laws specifically authorizing it.

According to Thompson Reuters Law Guides: “Land-based casinos and online gaming are permitted. In Mexico, there are 36 land-based permit holders that are, or could be, allowed to operate online gaming.”

Source: President says he will revoke all casino licenses granted over the last four years, G3 Newswire, March 20, 2023

The post President of Mexico Vows to Cancel All Casino Licenses Issued in Last 4 Years appeared first on Casino News Daily.