Investigators have arrested an individual accused of involvement in the theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s handbag at an upscale Washington hamburger restaurant last weekend, according to the Secret Service.
Matt McCool, a special agent at the Secret Service, stated that the suspect did not appear to have targeted Ms. Noem due to her position. While the suspect's name was not disclosed, McCool described the individual as “a serial offender” who attempted to use Ms. Noem’s credit card and access her electronic devices.
The incident occurred on April 20, Easter Sunday, when Ms. Noem’s purse was taken from underneath her chair while she dined with family at The Capital Burger in downtown Washington. The handbag contained the secretary’s driver’s license, medication, apartment keys, blank checks, department badge, passport, and $3,000 in cash.
According to Ms. Noem’s spokeswoman, the thief used his foot to hook the bag, dragged it across the floor, and covered it with a coat before exiting the restaurant. Although several Secret Service agents were present, they were positioned more than 20 feet away to allow Ms. Noem privacy during her meal.
In a social media post regarding the arrest, Ms. Noem referred to the suspect as a “career criminal” and a foreign national who had entered the United States illegally. The Secret Service did not confirm this allegation, directing inquiries to federal prosecutors involved in the case. Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, confirmed that the suspect had entered the U.S. illegally and indicated that law enforcement was pursuing additional individuals connected to the theft.
Mr. McCool noted that five law enforcement agencies, including Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, participated in the investigation.
This theft has intensified scrutiny on the Secret Service, which has faced increased criticism since Donald J. Trump was the target of two assassination attempts last year while campaigning for the presidency.