An illegal immigrant accused of stealing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse during an Easter dinner with family in Washington, D.C., has been arrested and is expected to appear in court next week.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
An illegal immigrant accused of brazenly stealing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse during an Easter Sunday family dinner in Washington, D.C., has been arrested and is expected to appear in court early next week, according to multiple reports.
The man, whose identity has not yet been released, allegedly swiped Noem’s Gucci bag while she dined at The Capital Burger in downtown Washington with her children and grandchildren. The purse contained $3,000 in cash, her passport, apartment keys, a DHS access badge, and other valuables, including a $600 Louis Vuitton Clemence Purse.
As reported by the Daily Mail, surveillance footage captured the masked suspect sitting near Noem’s table, using his foot to drag the purse away before covering it with a jacket and quickly leaving the restaurant.
NBC News confirmed that the apprehended suspect is in the United States illegally.
Secretary Noem recounted the incident during an interview on the “VINCE Show,” calling it “very professionally done.” She stressed the importance of addressing crime in American communities, stating, “It reaffirms why I am here.”
The New York Post reported that security footage showed a man wearing a medical mask, dark pants, and a fur-collared jacket committing the theft just blocks from the White House.
Noem later revealed that her purse has not yet been returned, leaving her passport, DHS badge, and other sensitive materials unaccounted for. CNN described how the thief sat at a table next to Noem’s family and executed the theft with precision.
“This is embarrassing as hell,” former Secret Service agent Ronald Layton told The New York Times, while acknowledging that even high-profile protectees sometimes seek more privacy during family outings.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green has pledged to work with the Secret Service to investigate the theft and any associated security lapses. “The security of our nation’s leaders is a vital part of DHS’ mission, and it must remain a top priority,” Green stated.
A second suspect may still be at large, and the investigation remains ongoing.