(KATV) One of the U.S.’s first non-binary federal officials has been arrested after they allegedly stole a suitcase from an airport in Virginia.
Sam Brinton, 35, used to be the “Deputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition” at the U.S. Department of Energy’s nuclear division under President Joe Biden.
The DOE told The National Desk in Dec. 2022 that Brinton was “no longer a DOE employee” after Brinton was accused of several thefts at different airports.
Now, the Montgomery Country Police Department (MCPD) has confirmed that Brinton was arrested at their home in Rockville, Md. on Wednesday night
Goff added that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police “are lead on this” case.
Brinton, who uses “they/them” pronouns, was arrested for being a “fugitive from justice” over charges stemming from an alleged luggage theft at Ronald Reagan National Airport, which authorities learned of in Feb. 2023, according to the New York Post quoting the MWAA.
Brinton previously faced similar charges for stealing a suitcase worth $3,670 at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas in July 2022, but has since been arrested, pleaded “no contest” and was sentenced to repay their victim. Brinton was also handed a 180-day suspended jail sentence in that case, which they could avoid by meeting the conditions the court had set.
Additionally, according to a criminal complaint filed back in Nov. 2022, Minnesota authorities identified Brinton as a person who took missing luggage from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport after reviewing surveillance footage. Brinton was reportedly seen on video removing identification tags from the missing bag and, on top of that, Brinton reportedly initially denied to police officers that they had taken the luggage.
Brinton rescinded that claim just two hours later when they called authorities back. They alleged they took the expensive bag by mistake. Brinton blamed “exhaustion” for the mistake, according to the filed complaint.
Brinton was charged with felony theft of moveable property without consent which, if convicted, could have brought a five-year prison sentence or a $10,000 fine, according to the Exchange Monitor. According to Fox News, Brinton’s case in Minnesota is still ongoing, and had a hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.
