Former senior Department of Energy official Sam Brinton, who identifies as “nonbinary,” is set to appear in court to answer to baggage theft charges from an airport in September.
Brinton, who is often seen wearing women’s clothing, allegedly stole $2,325 worth of luggage from the baggage claim area in Minneapolis St. Paul Airport in mid-September. Charges were brought in late October.
The former Biden official faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Brinton is set to appear in court Wednesday, February 15, after a judge denied multiple attempts by Brinton’s lawyers to allow him to attend remotely. The lawyers said Brinton was having “employment issues.”
Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs at The Trevor Project, on Monday, June 4, 2018. (Sarah Silbiger/CQ Roll Call)
“The current District Policy does not allow for remote appearances to be conducted for Felony 1st Appearances on the Property Drug Calendar with the only exception given to inmates in the custody of the Department of Corrections of the State of Minnesota,” Judge Gina Brandt said in response to the lawyers. “Therefore, I must deny your request again.”
Sam Brinton attends Evening Tea at Playboy Playhouse on June 22, 2019, in New York City. (Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Playboy)
The Minneapolis luggage theft is not the only one for which Brinton is accused.
After initial reports of Brinton’s Minnesota incident, officials in Las Vegas, Nevada’s, Harry Reid International Airport were able to piece together a July 6 baggage theft worth $3,670.
Sam Brinton attends Q&A for East Coast premiere of CONVERSION on November 17, 2022, in New York City. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for CONVERSION Movie)
Brinton faces up to ten years for this alleged theft and is currently out on $15,000 bail.
In light of the charges, Republicans are going after the Biden administration in regard to Brinton’s security clearance, with Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) telling Fox News, “It is clear as day that felons should not hold security clearances. … For months, I’ve been demanding answers from the Department of Energy on their failed security clearance process. Secretary Granholm has provided none.”
Breccan F. Thies is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow him on Twitter @BreccanFThies.
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