Sam Brinton, a previous non-binary nuclear waste official under President Joe Biden, was granted release without bail on Wednesday following a preliminary hearing. Brinton is accused of taking numerous items of women’s clothing from suitcases at airports, amounting to thousands of dollars in value. During the hearing, the judge addressed Brinton as “Mx. Brinton,” and instructed them not to make contact with any alleged victims. If convicted, Brinton could potentially receive a maximum sanction of five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.
Non-Binary, Ex-Biden Official Released Without Bail Over Charges of Stealing Women's Luggage https://t.co/CNgASYBeZW
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 16, 2023
Originally set for December 19th, the hearing for Sam Brinton was postponed until February 15th at the request of Brinton’s defense counsel. The former Biden official had asked to attend the hearing virtually, citing concerns about media attention and work obligations. However, the judge denied the request, citing District Policy that prohibits remote appearances for first appearances on the Property Drug Calendar when they involve felony charges.
On September 16th, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport saw the latest occurrence of theft, which involved Sam Brinton. Brinton is said to have taken a tag from a woman’s suitcase and walked away with it, reportedly containing items worth $2,325. According to American Airlines, Brinton had not checked any bags for the flight but left with one. In October, Brinton then utilized the same bag for a trip to Europe.
Brinton admitted to the crime but claimed it was an “accident.” He is no longer a Department of Energy employee, though it is unclear if he was fired or chose to resign.
Since the case was first reported, it has attracted considerable attention, and many people have been asking why Brinton was not held accountable for their actions. Despite being released without bail, the judge has directed Brinton not to make contact with any alleged victims, and they could face a maximum sanction of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. The outcome of the case is still uncertain, but it is crucial that justice is served.
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