Sam Brinton, who identifies as non-binary and is a former nuclear official, is facing detention in a men’s facility in Maryland while awaiting extradition to Virginia on charges of suitcase theft. According to a Montgomery County Sheriff’s officer, Brinton will be placed in the general population of the men’s jail early next week after being held in a pre-placement hold at the county jail.
Under the rules of the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, inmates are processed and housed based on their biological sex. The classification of an arrestee or inmate takes into account their genitalia, potential management or security concerns, and the guarantee of their health and safety. The policy does not consider anatomical changes due to hormonal therapy as constituting a change of anatomical sex. Once categorized, housing is assigned accordingly.
Brinton, who uses they/them pronouns, was apprehended at his residence last week and is now facing charges of grand larceny for allegedly stealing a case from a Tanzanian fashion designer at Reagan National Airport. Asya Khamsin, the designer, reported misplacing her suitcase at the airport in March 2018, which contained original dresses for a fashion show. Images were shared online showing Brinton and Khamsin wearing what appeared to be the same outfits.
Currently, Brinton, a Biden appointee, is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility until his court appearance on June 14. He was dismissed from his position after separate incidents of luggage theft were reported in Minnesota and Las Vegas. Arrest records show that Brinton was apprehended without bond on May 17 in the 700 block of College Parkway as a wanted felon.
According to Asya Khamsin’s lawyer, Peter Hansen, Khamsin has provided information to the authorities regarding the clothing as part of the ongoing investigation. Khamsin expressed confusion in a previous interview with The Post when she saw images of Brinton wearing her creations at events around the time the other two thefts made headlines worldwide.
Brinton, who previously held the position of deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste in the Office of Nuclear Energy, was terminated in December after being captured on camera leaving airports in Minnesota and Las Vegas with women’s bags.
