Joe Biden’s appointed official in charge of the nation’s nuclear waste disposal has been charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing luggage at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Sam Brinton, the self-proclaimed “non-binary” Department of Energy deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste disposition, is facing similar charges in Minnesota related to an alleged luggage theft in September.
The Nevada charge is for one felony count of grand larceny of property valued between $1,200 and $5,000. The alleged crime is a “category B” felony under Nevada law. It carries a sentence after conviction of one to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000.
Wait, Energy Dept’s Sam Brinton has been accused of stealing luggage at a SECOND airport? https://t.co/B7Cn3b3JN9
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 9, 2022
I’m calling for Sam Brinton to resign immediately.
A federal employee on leave for felony theft charges should not get paid with YOUR tax dollars.
This is the epitome of Biden’s America. pic.twitter.com/GW7j7N0BHx
— Brian Babin (@RepBrianBabin) December 7, 2022
Brinton has also been charged in Minnesota on an allegation he stole luggage valued at $2,325 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport baggage claim on September 16. Investigators allege Binton was seen at the airport that day with a Vera Bradley designer suitcase despite not having checked any luggage before his flight. The owner of the suitcase identified Brinton on the security video as the person who took their property from the baggage claim.
Security cameras later captured video of Brinkman in possession of the stolen suitcase in October at Washington Dulles Airport.
Brinkman reportedly admitted to investigators that he did take the suitcase. It appears he attempted to claim that he mistakenly thought the bag belonged to him. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on December 19. He could be sentenced to up to five years imprisonment if found guilty as charged in Minneapolis.
The Department of Energy placed Brinton on administrative leave after he was charged in the Minnesota incident.
Who could have seen this coming from they/them? pic.twitter.com/x1AQBRb2qb
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 29, 2022
Even before news broke of Brinkman’s latest arrest in Nevada, a group of Republican lawmakers had written to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm demanding that he either resign or be terminated.
The GOP members wrote: “It is simply not possible for an individual to represent American values and simultaneously violate the felony laws of the land.” It added that the DOE’s lack of transparency regarding Brinton reflects poorly on the department and raises concerns about “the Biden Administration’s priorities when appointing high-ranking officials.”
Brinton told reporters in October that he defends himself against criticism “with multiple graduate degrees from MIT, a decade of working in nuclear policy, and the strongest enthusiasm for working in nuclear waste out of anybody.”
