In a surprising twist of events, Sam Brinton, a former senior Department of Energy (DOE) official, has once again found themselves in legal trouble. Late on Wednesday, Brinton was arrested by Maryland police as a “fugitive from justice,” marking another chapter in a series of controversies.
According to county records reviewed by Fox News Digital, Brinton was taken into custody in Rockville, Maryland. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police, the primary law enforcement agency for airports in the Washington, D.C., area, stated that the arrest was related to the theft of airport luggage. This is the third criminal case involving Brinton and stolen property.
James Johnson, a spokesperson for the MWAA, revealed that a search warrant was executed in Montgomery County, Maryland, on May 17, based on allegations of stolen property in luggage from Reagan National Airport. The case was initially brought to the department’s attention in February 2023.
Assisted by the Montgomery County Police, the MWAA Police arrested Samuel Otis Brinton, a 35-year-old resident of Rockville, Maryland. Brinton is currently being held pending charges of Grand Larceny. The arrest was carried out swiftly, demonstrating the seriousness of the situation.
The Daily Wire conducted an interview with a witness claiming to be Brinton’s neighbor, who witnessed the arrest. According to the witness, Brinton was taken into custody shortly after the arrival of four unmarked police cars. Montgomery County Police Department spokesperson Shiera Goff confirmed their involvement, stating, “Montgomery County Police assisted in the arrest of Sam Brinton. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police are leading this investigation.”
Goff provided further details, stating, “Brinton was arrested at approximately 10 p.m. last night at their home on College Parkway. They are currently being held in the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit on a no-bond status as they await an extradition hearing. That’s all the information we have at this time.”
This recent arrest follows closely on the heels of Brinton’s narrow escape from imprisonment in two separate cases in Minnesota and Nevada, both related to luggage thefts. Brinton, known for being appointed as a non-binary gender-fluid person to oversee nuclear waste policy at the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, made headlines last year.
In October, Brinton was charged with stealing a traveler’s baggage worth $2,325 from the luggage carousel at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. In early December, Las Vegas prosecutors charged Brinton with grand larceny for allegedly stealing a suitcase with a total estimated worth of $3,670 from Harry Reid International Airport. The suitcase contained jewelry, clothing, and makeup.
Despite facing a potential 15-year sentence for the two alleged thefts, Brinton managed to avoid jail time in both cases. It is important to note that in February, a female Tanzanian fashion designer based in Houston accused Brinton of wearing her custom designs, which were packed in luggage reported missing in 2018. The Houston police have since referred this case to the FBI.
As the dust settles following this latest arrest, uncertainty looms over Brinton’s future and the implications of their alleged actions. Brinton’s departure from the Department of Energy, announced on December 12, remains shrouded in mystery. With a string of theft charges now adding to their controversial track record, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for Sam Brinton.
Source Fox News