Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned she felt one thing brush in opposition to her leg as a thief was dragging away her purse at a Washington restaurant on Sunday.
Noem mentioned she thought considered one of her grandchildren who was eating together with her had kicked her accidentally.
“I feel I used to be a busy grandma with 4 grandkids below the age of 4, and I used to be caring for them and feeding them meals and having fun with my household, yeah, however actually had my purse even touching my toes,” she mentioned.
Authorities mentioned a person carrying a masks took Noem’s bag, which contained $3,000, her DHS entry card, passport, make-up bag, condominium key and different gadgets.”It was type of surprising, really, as a result of it was sitting proper by my toes, really felt my purse, he hooked it along with his foot and dragged it a couple of steps away and dropped a coat over it and took it,” Noem mentioned on “The Vince Present” podcast.
Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak throughout a tour, Mar. 17, 2025, in Kodiak, Alaska.
Alex Brandon/AP
“It was professionally completed,” Noem mentioned. “It tells me that this occurs on a regular basis to individuals, and that they stay in communities the place it is a hazard.”
Noem mentioned she wasn’t positive if she was focused as a result of she was the DHS secretary.
A DHS official mentioned the secretary had the money together with her as a result of her household was on the town and she or he was treating them to Easter festivities.
“Her complete household was on the town together with her youngsters and grandchildren — she was utilizing the money withdrawal to deal with her household to dinner, actions, and Easter items,” the official mentioned.
The Secret Service is investigating, in accordance with the DHS official. The Secret Service deferred any touch upon the incident to DHS. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Division has not commented on the case.