Sam Brinton, a former official in the Biden administration, has dodged jail time after pleading guilty to stealing a woman’s luggage at Reagan International Airport in Virginia. Brinton’s plea deal includes community service and mental health treatment, stemming from the 2018 incident.
Brinton, who has faced multiple larceny charges in Minnesota, Nevada, and Washington, D.C., admitted to the petit larceny charge in exchange for a lighter sentence. This deal requires Brinton to complete 50 hours of community service, enter an adult diversion program, and write an apology letter to victim Asya Khamsin, a Tanzanian fashion designer.
In addition to the plea deal, Brinton settled a lawsuit with Khamsin, offering another apology. The court case remains pending, with Brinton needing to report back next year. Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney spokeswoman Jessika Thomas noted that the resolution aligns with the case’s circumstances but refrained from further comments due to its ongoing status.
Originally charged with grand larceny, Brinton faced the possibility of a 20-year prison sentence. The reduced charge and plea agreement have prevented imprisonment. Khamsin’s attorney expressed that she holds no ill-will toward Brinton and hopes their example of reconciliation will foster greater tolerance.
Brinton previously worked as the deputy assistant secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy but left the Department of Energy in 2022. Despite similar charges in other states, Brinton has managed to avoid prison, including a suspended 180-day jail sentence in Nevada last year.
