Kristi Noem loses government access info in purse snatch

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem lost thousands of dollars and sensitive government information when her purse was swiped from a downtown Washington, D.C., restaurant, according to CNN.

Noem was reportedly eating dinner at the unnamed restaurant Sunday night when the thief made off with her bag, according to "two sources familiar with the incident, including a law enforcement source."

Noem's DHS access badge and passport were in the purse when it was taken. She also lost $3,000 in cash, her driver's license, medication, apartment keys, makeup bag, and blank checks, CNN reported.

The report said the Secret Service reviewed security camera footage "and saw an unknown white male wearing a medical mask steal her bag and leave the restaurant."

Multiple social media users questioned why Noem was carrying such a large amount of cash, with CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Evan Gold writing, "Who carries $3,000 in cash, except criminals?"

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The Bulwark's Sam Stein posted on X, "there's a lot to unpack here. How did someone get this close when she had Secret Service protection? Why is she carrying 3k in cash? What restaurant?"

Political strategist Mike Harvey wrote, "All that cosplaying a bada-- and she cannot protect her own bag. How is she supposed to protect the Homeland? We laugh at the incompetence of this administration, but one day soon, it’s going to haunt us for the rest of our natural days."

Noem has received heavy criticism for her own social media posts where she's dressed as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent and participating in raids on undocumented migrants.

The Wall Street Journal's Michelle Hackman wrote, "Noem’s approach is rankling ICE officials, who grumble that her desire for publicity interfered with the operations of the agency she is in charge of running."

Since January, Noem "has gone horseback riding with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, joined the Coast Guard for boat and helicopter patrols, ridden an ATV through the Arizona desert, and traveled to El Salvador to film a propaganda video at a notorious torture prison," Hackman wrote.

Read the CNN story here.