Sam Brinton, a former nuclear official who does not identify as male, is currently facing theft charges related to stolen luggage. Presently, Brinton is held in “pre-placement” at a Maryland men’s jail but is expected to be transferred to a Virginia facility within the next week.
In accordance with the policy of the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, inmates are classified and housed separately based on their biological sex. Factors considered include genitalia, management, security, and ensuring health and safety.
Brinton, who prefers they/them pronouns, was taken into custody last week at their residence on suspicion of Grand Larceny. The charges stem from the theft of a suitcase belonging to Tanzanian fashion designer Asya Khamsin, which contained custom-made outfits for a runway presentation. Notably, similarities were observed between the patterns of clothing worn by Brinton in shared online photos and those missing from Khamsin’s suitcase at Ronald Reagan National Airport in March 2018.
Currently, Brinton remains detained at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility until their court appearance scheduled for June 14, where they will face two separate counts of luggage theft in Minnesota and Las Vegas.
While Brinton’s lawyers have not provided any comments on the matter, the consequences of their involvement in the thefts have already resulted in their removal from the position of deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste in the Office of Nuclear Energy in December.
As the legal proceedings progress, Brinton’s future hangs in the balance, awaiting the outcomes of their court appearance and subsequent actions taken by the justice system.