Sam Brinton, a non-binary LGBTQ+ activist and former Biden administration Department of Energy official, was arrested this week as a “fugitive from justice” for stealing women’s luggage from airports.

Brinton was taken into custody at his home in Maryland Wednesday night and escorted to the Montgomery County Detention Center.

Police stated:

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police executed a search warrant May 17 in Montgomery County, Maryland, in connection with allegations of stolen property in luggage from Reagan National Airport that was brought to the department’s attention in February 2023. 

 

With the assistance of Montgomery County Police, Samuel Otis Brinton, age 35, of Rockville, Maryland, was taken into custody Wednesday pending charges of Grand Larceny.

The former nuclear energy official faces a minimum of one year in prison, but up to 20, under Virginia law.

According to exclusive Daily Wire reporting, “A public defender spoke for him temporarily, despite his not being eligible for a public defender because of his income.” Brinton requested release, asking to be allowed to turn himself in.

His public defender said that Brinton “believes if he is released to turn himself in [to Virginia], he can keep his job.” But Judge Victor Del Pino declined and ordered Brinton to be extradited to Virginia.

This is not the first time Brinton has been arrested. He was also arrested in Las Vegas and Minnesota for similar offenses in the past. He was subsequently fired from his Department of Energy position after admitting he stole a suitcase from an airport luggage carousel during a work trip.

In both of his previous arrests, Brinton was given plea deals and did not have to serve any jail time. He did, however, agree to pay his victim more than $3,500 in restitution.

Brinton has been a public and outspoken LGBTQ+ activist and has grown infamous for his luggage pilfering. In March of 2023, Tanzanian fashion designer Asya Idarous Khamsin appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight to share her story.

Khamsin said in 2018, on her way to a fashion show, she lost some of her luggage at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). At the time, she filed a police report but never heard any updates about her missing luggage.

Later, when stories of Brinton’s serial luggage theft were covered on Fox News, she was shocked to see that Brinton was photographed in public wearing her one-of-a-kind clothing designs.

"Oh, my God. I was shocked," Khamsin said. "For more than 40 years, I work hard on my work. It's very paining.” She added,  “I was asking myself how this person got my custom-made designs because it's one-of-a-kind, and wear them without fear and display in public.”

Brinton has become somewhat of a meme for his flagrant and criminal fashion exploits. Images of Brinton dressed flamboyantly in women’s clothes, with a prominent mustache and often loud lipstick colors are all over the internet.

Many people find him both hilariously ridiculous and simultaneously infuriating. NewsBusters media editor Bill D'Agostino tweeted:

Will somebody please tell Sam Brinton to stop getting arrested so I can go a week without seeing his creepy face on my timeline?

Others have made a meme of Brinton, tweeting images of a luggage “security” tag that says, “You won’t look good in my clothes.”