In October 2022, Brinton was charged with felony theft after allegedly stealing a woman's suitcase from a
Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport baggage carousel on September 16. The criminal complaint alleged that Brinton did not have any checked luggage, and placed the suitcase's baggage tag in their handbag before leaving with the suitcase.
[1][29] A hearing related to the complaint is scheduled for December 19, 2022.
[29]
On December 8, 2022, a felony warrant for
grand larceny was issued for Brinton's arrest, also for being accused of stealing luggage, this time from the
Harry Reid International Airport at Las Vegas on July 6, 2022.
[30]
In November 2022, Brinton was placed on leave by the Department of Energy, following their being charged with theft of airport luggage.
[1][31] On December 12, 2022, the Department of Energy updated its website to show that the deputy assistant secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition in the Office of Nuclear Energy was vacant, and Brinton's webpage was removed.
[32][33] A Department of Energy spokesperson confirmed that Brinton was no longer a DOE employee.
[34]