OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
An official with the Biden Department of Energy has been arrested on a second felony charge. According to reports, Sam Brinton, a “gender-fluid” deputy assistant secretary for Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition at the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, was picked up a second time and saddled with a felony charge of stealing luggage at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
“The charge is for grand larceny with a value between $1,200 and $5,000, records showed,” according to KLAS. Brinton was accused of stealing a woman’s luggage at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport last month, The New York Post reported.
“Brinton, who made history as one of the federal government’s first gender-fluid officials, allegedly stole luggage from another traveler at Harry Reid International Airport in Vegas on an unknown date, according to the outlet,” The Post added.
On Tuesday Georgia Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde and 15 other Republicans sent a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm demanding that Brinton resign.
“We write to respectfully demand the resignation of the Department of Energy’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition, Sam Brinton, who was recently put on leave following felony theft charges,” the letter said.
“Despite not checking a bag before flying out of Washington, D.C., surveillance footage reveals Brinton taking and leaving with luggage from the baggage carousel at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport on September 16th.1 After initially lying to the police, Brinton later admitted to taking a suitcase valued at $2,325 and hiding the owner’s belongings in a hotel room.2 Alarmingly, Brinton has been observed using the stolen suitcase on multiple trips to Washington, D.C.3 , and was ultimately charged with felony theft, which carries a penalty of up to five years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both,” it said.
“As you are aware, your Department issued notice that Sam Brinton was placed on leave without providing crucial context clarifying that Brinton’s recent employment status was the result of a felony charge. As an appointed official, Sam Brinton represents both your Department and the United States. It is 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. It is imperative that we do not allow a person charged with a felony to influence America’s policies,” the lawmakers said.
“Furthermore, our nation is in the midst of an energy crisis – a crisis that was unquestionably created by the Biden Administration’s reckless, radical, and failed policies. Your Department should be dedicated to a pro-American energy agenda, focusing on restoring energy independence and lowering energy prices across the nation. However, to many Americans, it appears that you are more interested in playing politics and protecting an employee who admitted to felony theft to police than providing real solutions for hard-working Americans,” they said.
“Therefore, we demand the resignation of Sam Brinton, and we implore you to set aside petty politics and appoint only the most qualified and dedicated individuals to influence America’s energy sector,” they said as they asked for a response by December 30.
Earlier this year, Brinton took to Twitter to announce that he had been named the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition at the Energy Department.
“It’s official. As of June 19th, I now serve my nation as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy in the Department of Energy,” he tweeted.
It’s official. As of June 19th, I now serve my nation as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy in the Department of Energy. pic.twitter.com/zLq3Bf97X2
— Sam Brinton (@sbrinton) June 29, 2022
“As one of if not the very first openly genderfluid individuals in federal government leadership, I was welcomed with open arms into the Department of Energy all the way up to the Secretary whom I shared the stage with in a Pride month celebration panel just today,” Brinton added in a Twitter thread.
As one of if not the very first openly genderfluid individuals in federal government leadership, I was welcomed with open arms into the Department of Energy all the way up to the Secretary whom I shared the stage with in a Pride month celebration panel just today.
— Sam Brinton (@sbrinton) June 29, 2022
