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Sam Brinton Released Without Bail After First Minneapolis Court Appearance

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James Lynch Investigative Reporter
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Disgraced Biden Energy Department official Sam Brinton was released without bail after a court appearance for allegedly stealing luggage in Minnesota.

Brinton was charged with felony theft in October for allegedly stealing a woman’s suitcase at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Brinton was released without bail and ordered not to contact any victims after a Wednesday hearing, according to local reports. (RELATED: Disgraced Nuclear Official’s Security Clearance Doesn’t Add Up, Professionals Say)

Airport security footage caught Brinton allegedly using the suitcase and its contents, which were worth $2,325, after a woman reported her luggage missing. Brinton faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the alleged Minneapolis theft, Forbes reported.

Brinton was also charged with felony grand larceny for allegedly stealing luggage at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, 8 News Now reported.

Brinton’s bail was set at $15,000 during a December court appearance for the Las Vegas incident. Security footage taken in July showed Brinton allegedly with the suitcase and its contents, which were valued at $3,670, the outlet reported.

Brinton, an LGBTQ activist with they/them pronouns, was appointed in February 2022 to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition (NE-8) in the Department of Energy (DoE). Brinton became the first genderfluid person to hold a federal leadership role until Brinton was let go for the two alleged luggage thefts.