Lauren C. Moye, FISM News
[elfsight_social_share_buttons id=”1″]
Sam Brinton defenders might find themselves struggling for a reasonable defense now that the non-binary Department of Energy senior official has been accused of stealing a second suitcase, this time from the Las Vegas airport in a separate incident.
As first reported by Las Vegas area 8 News Now, the new accusation came with a felony warrant for Brinton’s arrest on Thursday.
“A felony warrant was issued for Sam Brinton, a deputy assistant secretary, sources said. The charge is for grand larceny with a value between $1,200 and $5,000, records showed,” the 8 News Now investigators wrote as the only supplemental details on the latest warrant.
Brinton, a biological male who identifies as non-binary, was previously celebrated by the left and LGBTQ allies for his appointment as the deputy assistant secretary for the nuclear waste office of the U.S. energy department. He was the first openly “genderfluid” person to be appointed to a high-ranking government position, which made him a figurehead for the LGBTQ allies.
This is now the second time that Brinton has been caught stealing luggage from an airport. On Oct. 26, a criminal complaint detailed that Brinton had stolen a Vera Bradley suitcase from a luggage carousel at the Minneapolis St. Paul that did not belong to him. The contents of the luggage were estimated to be over $2,300.
When confronted, Brinton said he took the suitcase by mistake despite not having checked in a bag at his departure from New Orleans.
Brinton has previously been defended by Democrats, including Senior Democrats on the Senate Energy Committee who said they were not prepared to call for Brinton’s dismissal.
“Everyone’s innocent until proven guilty,” said Energy Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) to the Washington Times earlier this month. “But if he’s convicted of what he’s done, he’s gone.”
Brinton was placed on administrative leave following the first felony theft incident. However, it was not immediately clear that the energy department made this decision in response to federal charges.
They have since refused to answer if Brinton is actively being paid during this time, according to The New York Post.
A coalition of ten Congressmen demanded Brinton’s resignation on Tuesday in a letter to the Department of Energy’s Secretary Jennifer Granholm, saying, “It’s simply not possible for an individual to represent American values and simultaneously violate the felony laws of the land.”
“Brinton’s actions, along with your Department’s lack of transparency when dealing with this matter, reflect poorly on the department of Energy, and they raise concern as to the Biden Administration’s priorities when appointing high-ranking officials,” the representatives continued.
Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) explained why he signed the letter in a statement posted to his social media channels.
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
In late November, Senate Ranking Member John Barrasso also called for the termination of Brinton’s employment and security clearance in a letter sent to the energy department secretary.
In addition to apparently stealing women’s suitcases from airports, Brinton also spends his time promoting his sexual kinks and fetishes online.