Who is Sam Brinton? Joe Biden's non-binary nuclear official caught stealing luggage from Minneapolis airport
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: A Joe Biden administration employee has been accused of stealing a traveler’s luggage from the Minneapolis airport in September. The suspect, Sam Brinton, is one of the federal government’s first gender non-binary officials. Brinton was charged with felony theft of a moveable property without consent after they allegedly snatched a Vera Bradley suitcase said to be worth $2,325 from baggage claim at the Minneapolis St Paul Airport on September 19, court documents revealed.
Brinton was seen taking the luggage and removing its ID tag identifying the owner in a surveillance video. Later, they were seen using the Vera Bradley suitcase on at least two occasions as they traveled to Washington, DC on September 18 and October 9, according to investigators. While Brinton first denied stealing the suitcase, they later claimed they still have it with them after having taken it by mistake.
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“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, according to New York Post. “That was my clothes when I opened the bag.” They, however, later called the officer and confessed they were not being “completely honest", claiming they grabbed the wrong bag due to exhaustion. Brinton claimed when they opened their bag at the hotel and realized it was not theirs, they got nervous thinking people might believe they stole it. They said they emptied the luggage and left the clothes that were in the suitcase inside the drawers of a dresser.
Who is Sam Brinton?
Sam Brinton serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (NE-8). They reportedly lead NE-8 and oversee its programs, which include the Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology and the Office of Integrated Waste Management.
According to the Office of Nuclear Energy, "Sam brings a wealth of experience to this role, having previously served as the first employee of the country's first and only nuclear waste management and disposal start-up company, as well as leading one of the first major national consensus reports on the topic of consent-based siting at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Sam has also worked for think tanks such as the Breakthrough Institute, Clean Air Task Force, and Third Way."
It adds, "Sam holds dual graduate degrees in nuclear science and engineering as well as the Technology Policy Program from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering with a nuclear engineering focus and vocal music performance from Kansas State University. Sam is also a well-known advocate for LGBTQ youth and helped to secure protections against the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy in more than half of the country. They identify as gender-fluid and use the pronouns they, them, and theirs."
Following the allegations about a month ago, Brinton was placed on leave and another official became their interim replacement earlier this month. If Brinton is convicted, they could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.