A senior Department of Energy (DOE) official has been charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing a woman’s designer suitcase at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP) Airport in September.

Sam Brinton, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, was hired as the deputy assistant secretary for spent fuel and waste disposition at the DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy in June.

Security cameras at the MSP Airport allegedly captured Brinton stealing a woman’s Vera Bradley roller bag — worth $2,325 — from a baggage carousel, removing its tag identifying the owner, and leaving the area at a “quick pace,” according to a criminal complaint.

Brinton was seen using the Vera Bradley suitcase on at least two occasions, according to court documents.

When law enforcement officials called to speak about the incident, the 34-year-old initially denied stealing anything.

“If I had taken the wrong bag, I am happy to return it, but I don’t have any clothes for another individual,” Brinton first told the officer. “That was my clothes when I opened the bag.”

But a few hours later, Brinton called back and admitted to not being “completely honest.” The non-binary Biden administration official said they had accidentally grabbed the wrong bag from the luggage carousel due to exhaustion.

“DEFENDANT admitted to taking the blue bag, but stated they were tired and took the suitcase thinking it was theirs. DEFENDANT said when they opened the bag at the hotel, they realized it was not theirs. DEFENDANT got nervous people would think they stole the bag and did not know what to do. DEFENDANT stated they left the clothes from the bag inside the drawers in the hotel room,” the court filing reads. “

When asked by law enforcement why they continued to use the bag, Brinton said they didn’t want to leave the bag in the hotel room, because it was “weirder” to leave a bag than the clothes.

None of the victim’s clothes were recovered from the hotel room, according to the complaint. Despite the fact that officers instructed Brinton on how to return the bag to its owner, she still hadn’t received it as of Oct. 27. The bag and its contents were valued at $2,325.

Brinton was placed on leave from the DOE following the theft accusations. Another official was designated as the temporary replacement earlier this month.

“Sam Brinton is on leave from DOE, and Dr. Kim Petry is performing the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition,” a DOE spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

If found guilty, Brinton may receive a maximum penalty of five years in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both, according to Minnesota law. A court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 19.

Sources: Fox News | Exchange Monitor | Daily Caller