Former Department of Energy official Sam Brinton no longer works for the department, a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner on Monday, amid allegations that Brinton has been involved in multiple luggage thefts.
“Sam Brinton is no longer a DOE employee. By law, the Department of Energy cannot comment further on personnel matters,” the department spokesperson said in an email.
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Prior to Monday’s report, the department claimed that Brinton, who is nonbinary, was placed on leave but refused to comment on whether the leave was paid. It is not clear whether Brinton resigned or was fired from the department.
Brinton, who served as the Energy Department’s deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste disposition, is facing two grand larceny charges after allegedly stealing luggage from the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Minnesota. Both suitcases and the items inside were worth over $2,000 each.
Brinton was identified as the alleged perpetrator in Las Vegas after law enforcement announced charges in Minnesota, despite the alleged theft in Las Vegas occurring first on July 6. A detective in Las Vegas claimed that it was the shirt design of a rainbow-colored nuclear symbol that confirmed Brinton’s identity after spotting Brinton in the same shirt in a social media post.
Brinton’s exit comes a week after Republican lawmakers demanded the former Biden administration official’s resignation. The lawmakers claimed that a U.S. official should not violate the laws of the land he or she represents.
“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,” the letter read. “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.”
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If convicted in Nevada, Brinton could face between one year and 10 years in prison based on state law. If convicted on the first allegation, Brinton could face five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
