Sam Brinton, a senior official at the Energy Department (DOE), is facing prison time after being charged with stealing a traveler’s luggage.
According to a criminal complaint filed in October in Minnesota state court and obtained by Fox News, Brinton allegedly stole a Vera Bradley suitcase worth more than $2,000 at the Minneapolis St. Paul Airport (MSP) in September.
Brinton was reportedly flying from Washington, D.C., to MSP.
After being alerted by the owner of the luggage, police officers looked over video surveillance of the luggage carousel and identified Brinton taking the luggage before removing the tag, as the outlet reported.
Brinton was later seen using the luggage during the course of at least two other trips to Washington, D.C., on September 18 and October 9.
A police officer called Brinton to discuss the incident on October 9 during which the Department of Energy official denied stealing it.
“If I had taken the wrong bag, I am happy to return it, but I don’t have any clothes for another individual,” Brinton said. “That was my clothes when I opened the bag.”
Two hours later, Brinton called the officer again and admitted to not being “completely honest.”
Brinton claimed it was a mistake and said being tired was the reason behind taking the luggage.
“DEFENDANT said when they opened the bag at the hotel, they realized it was not theirs,” the court filings stated, as Fox News reported.
The filings continue, “DEFENDANT got nervous people would think they stole the bag and did not know what to do. DEFENDANT stated they left the clothes from the bag inside the drawers in the hotel room.”
Brinton was later charged with felony theft of a movable property without consent, and is facing five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.
The official was mocked on social media after the news of the theft broke.
One user tweeted, “Hey did you hear about Biden’s transgender/ gender fluid DOE appointed Sam Brinton, who was charged with felony theft and lying to police after allegedly stealing a woman’s Vera Bradley suitcase at MSP Airport? Wonder what ‘their’ excuse will be? Fashion emergency maybe?”
https://twitter.com/LauraKronen/status/1597562758618152960
Another tweet joked, “Sam Brinton’s style makes way more sense when you realize he’s just wearing whatever he finds in other people’s luggage.”
Sam Brinton's style makes way more sense when you realize he's just wearing whatever he finds in other people's luggage. pic.twitter.com/FVqNRsVKv7
— Kate Hyde (@KateHydeNY) November 29, 2022
Journalist Breanna Morello reacted, saying, “So this dude, Sam Brinton, allegedly stole a woman’s Vera Bradley suitcase from the airport and was used it on several business trips. The [New York Post] covered this story by using Sam’s preferred ‘they/them’ pronouns.”
She added, “I’m opting out of this nonsense. It’s an automatic ‘it’ from me.”
So this dude, Sam Brinton, allegedly stole a woman’s Vera Bradley suitcase from the airport and was used it on several business trips.
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) November 29, 2022
The @nypost covered this story by using Sam’s preferred “they/them” pronouns.
I’m opting out of this nonsense.
It’s an automatic “it” from me. pic.twitter.com/VAz1T8TlRK
The New York Post noted Brinton was placed on leave roughly a month ago after the accusations were made.