WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia confirmed in an interview with NBC News that the individual wanted for stealing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem's purse is in the United States illegally.
Ed Martin also said that a second suspect who is also in the country illegally is being sought by law enforcement. He added that it is not believed that the suspects targeted Noem because she is the DHS secretary. Martin said, "There is no indication it was because of that. It was frankly, it was a nice looking purse."
Maritn confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now involved, saying, "President Trump's direction to us is we charge these folks that are here illegally and we prosecute them, as well as deport them when need be, you know, as soon as that can happen. What I can tell you is he won't be back on the streets in America."
Martin said that the person who took the bag knew exactly what he was doing. He said, "This was not an amateur. This was a person, a thief, that knew how to do this. You could see how he scouted the room out."
As the DHS secretary, Noem receives Secret Service protection. When asked for comment from the U.S. Secret Service agent that was providing protection for Noem, the agency's spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said, "For the safety of our agents and officers, we are not in a position to confirm or comment at this time. Should criminal charges be filed, the Department of Homeland Security will provide public information in accordance with established procedures."
Law Enforcement Today previously reported on Noem's purse being snatched while she was out to dinner on Easter Sunday with her family. A masked man walked into Capital Burger and passed two plainclothes Secret Service officers who were sitting at the bar on his way to her table, which was upstairs.
According to two sources familiar with the incident and who viewed the surveillance footage, he then sat down next to Noem's table, where she was eating with her family, and put his foot on her purse to drag it towards himself. Then, he swiftly picked it up, tucked it under his jacket and walked out, passing the Secret Service agents on his way out.
Noem's purse contained $3,000 cash as well as her DHS access badge, her passport, various credit cards, blank checks, a set of keys, her driver's license, and medication. The investigation remains on going and is being handled by the Metropoliltan Police and the U.S. Secret Service.
After the incident, Fox News reported that Noem told podcaster Vince Coglianese on the "VINCE Show" that, "It was kind of shocking, actually, because it was sitting right by my feet. I actually felt my purse, he hooked it with his foot and drug it a few steps away and dropped a coat of it and took it."
She added, "I felt it, but I thought it was my grandkids kicking me in the legs. But it was very professionally done, and it tells that this happens all the time to people and that they live in communities where this is a danger and it reaffirms why I am here. My job is to make sure that I do everything, every day I can to make our communities safer and President Trump recognizes that families shouldn't have to live with any kind of violence in their lives."
Ed Martin also said that a second suspect who is also in the country illegally is being sought by law enforcement. He added that it is not believed that the suspects targeted Noem because she is the DHS secretary. Martin said, "There is no indication it was because of that. It was frankly, it was a nice looking purse."
Maritn confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now involved, saying, "President Trump's direction to us is we charge these folks that are here illegally and we prosecute them, as well as deport them when need be, you know, as soon as that can happen. What I can tell you is he won't be back on the streets in America."
Martin said that the person who took the bag knew exactly what he was doing. He said, "This was not an amateur. This was a person, a thief, that knew how to do this. You could see how he scouted the room out."
As the DHS secretary, Noem receives Secret Service protection. When asked for comment from the U.S. Secret Service agent that was providing protection for Noem, the agency's spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said, "For the safety of our agents and officers, we are not in a position to confirm or comment at this time. Should criminal charges be filed, the Department of Homeland Security will provide public information in accordance with established procedures."
Law Enforcement Today previously reported on Noem's purse being snatched while she was out to dinner on Easter Sunday with her family. A masked man walked into Capital Burger and passed two plainclothes Secret Service officers who were sitting at the bar on his way to her table, which was upstairs.
According to two sources familiar with the incident and who viewed the surveillance footage, he then sat down next to Noem's table, where she was eating with her family, and put his foot on her purse to drag it towards himself. Then, he swiftly picked it up, tucked it under his jacket and walked out, passing the Secret Service agents on his way out.
Noem's purse contained $3,000 cash as well as her DHS access badge, her passport, various credit cards, blank checks, a set of keys, her driver's license, and medication. The investigation remains on going and is being handled by the Metropoliltan Police and the U.S. Secret Service.
After the incident, Fox News reported that Noem told podcaster Vince Coglianese on the "VINCE Show" that, "It was kind of shocking, actually, because it was sitting right by my feet. I actually felt my purse, he hooked it with his foot and drug it a few steps away and dropped a coat of it and took it."
She added, "I felt it, but I thought it was my grandkids kicking me in the legs. But it was very professionally done, and it tells that this happens all the time to people and that they live in communities where this is a danger and it reaffirms why I am here. My job is to make sure that I do everything, every day I can to make our communities safer and President Trump recognizes that families shouldn't have to live with any kind of violence in their lives."
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