A former employee of the Justice Department who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during the law enforcement surge under President Donald Trump in Washington was acquitted of assault on Thursday, marking another legal challenge to the federal intervention. The incident, captured on video, turned Sean Charles Dunn into a symbol of opposition to Trump’s deployment of federal agents to address crime in the capital.
Despite prosecutors arguing that Dunn violated the law by throwing the sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent, his defense team successfully convinced the jury that it was a protected act of protest under the First Amendment. Dunn’s attorney questioned the rationale behind bringing the misdemeanor assault charge in the first place, emphasizing that the sandwich did not cause any harm.
Following the verdict, Dunn expressed relief and a desire to move forward with his life. The incident occurred amidst Trump’s mobilization of National Guard troops and federal agents to support police patrols in Washington. Dunn, who confronted CBP agents while chanting and calling them names, was captured on video throwing the sandwich at an agent.
The sandwich reportedly hit the agent’s chest hard enough to be felt through his vest, leading to a light-hearted exchange of gifts among colleagues. Despite the prosecution’s arguments, Dunn’s legal team raised concerns about the selective prosecution and alleged targeting of Dunn for his political speech. Dunn faces charges related to assaulting a federal officer, with contrasting outcomes for individuals involved in similar incidents during the Capitol insurrection in 2021.
