Trump Secretary's Stolen Handbag: Now She Explains the "Unusual" Contents

wa Trump Secretary's Stolen Handbag: Now She Explains the "Unusual" Contents Max Nebel • 7 hours • 2 minutes read Theft Despite Secret Service Surveillance US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was the victim of a theft on Easter Sunday. Her handbag was stolen while she was at a restaurant. Washington, D.C. – US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's handbag was stolen while she was at a restaurant on Easter Sunday. It contained, among other things, $3,000 in cash (approximately €2,630), identification documents, a department access card, and apartment keys. This was reported by multiple sources. The suspect, a 49-year-old man, has since been arrested. Trump Secretary Carried $3,000 Cash in Stolen Purse According to CNN, Noem was with her family at the popular Capital Burger restaurant in Washington when an unknown assailant stole the purse from under her table. Despite the presence of her Secret Service security team, the assailant managed to escape unnoticed. Surveillance footage showed a masked man pulling the purse away with his foot and removing it while covered with a jacket, according to Politico, citing investigators. The suspect, Mario Bustamante Leiva, was arrested in Washington last weekend (April 26), as reported by The Independent. In addition to the theft, he is also charged with credit card fraud and identity theft. According to an affidavit cited by The Independent, Leiva admitted to stealing the purse and using Noem's credit cards to spend $205.87 on food and alcohol, among other things. The Secret Service emphasized that the incident was not related to Noem's office. US Secretary of Homeland Security Noem carried a large sum of money for Easter. Noem's department explained the unusually large amount of cash in her purse to the New York Times as a reference to Easter: "Her entire family was in town, including her children and grandchildren. She used the cash withdrawal to treat her family to dinner and activities, as well as for Easter gifts." Noem, known for her strict immigration policies, used the incident to make political statements. On Platform X, she wrote: "This individual is a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years." She emphasized that she was working with US President Donald Trump to "get these criminal aliens off our streets." Despite the security team, a thief managed to steal Kristi Noem's purse from the popular restaurant "Capital Burger" in Washington, D.C. $3,000 cash stolen from Trump secretary: Where was the Secret Service? Critical questions, however, were raised by the fact that the theft was successful despite the presence of the Secret Service. According to CNN, two plainclothes bodyguards were present, but they were at the bar. The Secret Service did not provide details about the security measures, as Newsweek reports. Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin confirmed to NBC News that Leiva was "in the country illegally" and "will not return to America's streets." Leiva, who reportedly cited memory problems and alcoholism, denied recognizing Noem, according to The Independent. A second suspect was arrested in Miami, the Secret Service announced Sunday. Authorities are investigating additional fraud, including the use of stolen credit cards for motel bookings.