Non-Binary official who was appointed by US President Joe Biden will appear in court over charges following baggage theft allegations.
According to the reports, Biden-appointee former senior Department of Energy (DOE) official Sam Brinton is scheduled to appear in a court in Minnesota on Wednesday to face charges over the alleged baggage theft last September.
In a report published by Fox News, it was revealed that
“Brinton was charged” in late October “with stealing a woman’s luggage worth $2,325 near the baggage claim area at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)” on September 16.
“Brinton faces up to 10 years in prison for the alleged theft of the bag — which contained jewelry valued at $1,700, clothing worth $850 and makeup valued at $500 — in Las Vegas. In December, Brinton appeared at a court hearing in Clark County, Nevada, where attorneys agreed on bail in the case being set at $15,000. Brinton was also booked and released,” the report wrote.
In a criminal complaint filed in a Hennepin County court, it was stated that “Brinton faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine as a result of the incident,” the report added.
Originally, the hearing was scheduled on December 19 but was moved to February 15 following a request from Brinton’s defense counsel.
Brinton’s counsels also requested the judge to allow him attend the hearing remotely, arguing that he was in the middle of dealing with “employment issues,” adding that the case had already garnered substantial media attention. However, the judge who was handling the case reportedly rejected multiple requests.
In the decision wrote by Judge Gina Brandt wrote to Brinton’s lawyers last December, the Judge said that “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. Therefore, I must deny your request again.”
On December 12, the DOE declared that Brinton had resigned from the agency. According to the agency’s spokesperson, the agency wasn’t allowed to comment on personnel matters.
The statement came amid pressure from the Republican lawmakers over Brinton’s employment status and security clearance.
In an interview with the Fox News last December, Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., the chairman of the Republican Study Committee claimed that “the reported details of Sam Brinton’s thievery are bizarre and disturbing.”
“Americans deserve transparency about who and what their taxpayer dollars are funding.” Banks added.
