Brinton could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
One of the U.S. federal government’s first non-binary officials has been arrested and charged with stealing luggage at a Minneapolis airport.
Fox News reports that Sam Brinton — deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste disposition at the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy — has been charged with felony theft in the September incident.
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Cops allege Brinton snatched a $2,325 Vera Bradley suitcase from baggage claim. Court documents reveal that Brinton — who uses they/them pronouns — was captured by CCTV grabbing the suitcase and removing the identification tag.
Brinton was then spotted using the suitcase on two occasions since. Both times Brinton was travelling to Washington. At first, Brinton denied snatching the bag but later claimed the alleged theft was a mistake.
“If I had taken the wrong bag, I am happy to return it, but I don’t have any clothes for another individual,” Brinton first told the officer, Fox News reported. “That was my clothes when I opened the bag.”
Two hours later, Brinton called the cop and admitted not being “completely honest.” Brinton claimed to have been exhausted at the time.
At the hotel, Brinton realized the luggage was wrong but didn’t know what to do. Brinton emptied the suitcase, leaving the clothes in the drawers of a hotel dresser.
The aide was placed on leave about a month ago following the allegations. If convicted, Brinton could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
bhunter@postmedia.com
@HunterTOSun
